The [Cr(salen)](+)[salenH(2) = N,Ar-bis(salicylaldehyde)-ethylenediimine] complex moiety is immobilized in NaY matrix to obtain a new hybrid catalytic system. The resulting yellow colored zeolite immobilized Cr(salen) catalyst on washing with CH3OH and H2O turns to light grey. The spectroscopic measurements showed that the interaction between axially coordinated H2O and Cr(III) in [Cr(salen)(H2O)(2)](+) moiety becomes weaker on the entrapment of the complex moiety in Y zeolite supercage. A good catalytic performance of the newly prepared hybrid catalyst was observed in epoxidation reaction of norbornene and styrene. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.