Chemistry of coordinatively unsaturated centers in zeolites

Coordinatively unsaturated centers (CUCs) in zeolites are emerging as robust active sites for many chemical processes, in analogy to those in organometallic complexes or metal–organic frameworks.Various strategies have been developed for the construction of CUCs within zeolite matrix, either incorporated into zeolite framework or stabilized as extra-framework cations, endowing the zeolite host characteristic functionalities.The explicit structure and coordination environment of CUCs within zeolite matrix can be revealed via the combination of multiple advanced spectroscopy techniques.CUCs within zeolite matrix show unique interactions with small molecules and create unique properties in chemisorption and catalysis, making CUC-containing zeolites promising candidates for various applications.