Molecular shielding in TiO2 nanotubes: unlocking oxovanadium(IV) for ultrafast aqueous polymerization

Abstract

A molecular shielding strategy using TiO2 nanotubes is reported to protect oxovanadium(IV) complexes from hydrolytic deactivation. This nanoconfinement-driven approach enables the efficient microwave-assisted aqueous polymerization of methyl methacrylate. Thus, the cooperative effect between auxiliary ligand design and the inorganic scaffold transforms labile species into robust catalysts for sustainable chemical processes.