Fe-bipyridine complexes encapsulated into Na-Y ([Fe(bpy)(3)](2+)@Y) were prepared and their catalytic activities for oxidation of cyclohexene with hydrogen peroxide in CH3CN and H2O solvents were investigated. The prepared [Fe(bpy)(3)](2+)@Y was characterized by several methods and it was found that slightly distorted or compressed [Fe(bpy)(3)](2+) ions were formed within supercages of Y-type zeolite. [Fe(bpy)(3)](2+)@Y catalyst exhibited both higher activity and higher selectivity to 2-cyclohexen-1-ol in water solvent than another Fe catalysts. In addition, the selective hydroxylation of cyclohexene to 2-cyclohexen-1-ol with molecular oxygen was successfully achieved for [Fe(bpy)(3)](2+)@Y catalyst. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.