The preparation of palladium complexes of the chiral salen-type ligand (R,R)-N',N'-bis-(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediamine (salen*) in the intracrystalline cavities of zeolites with the FAU and the EMT framework topology is reported. The host/guest compounds obtained are active catalysts for the hydrogenation of olefinic double bonds. Using 3-methyl-2-cyclohexenone as prochiral feed, it is demonstrated for the first time that enantioselective hydrogenation over zeolite-encapsulated palladium-salen* complexes is possible. So far, an enantiomeric excess of ca. 7% can be achieved. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.