Supramolecular catalysis by the inside of a bowl-type dodecavanadate for cyanamide dimerization

Abstract

Cyanamide captured by the bowl-type dodecavanadate, [V₁₂O₃₂]⁴⁻, is dimerized. The turnover number reaches 46.5. This transformation broadens the functional scope of nano-sized well-arranged metal-oxygen species, highlighting cavity-controlled binding, stabilization, and guest exchange as a viable strategy to achieve good turnover and selectivity in C–N bond formation under otherwise non-promoting conditions.