Two high-nuclearity isopolyoxoniobates containing {Nb O}-based helical nanotubes for the decomposition of chemical warfare agent simulants.

Two inorganic-organic hybrid isopolyoxoniobates (1 and 2) based on new high-nuclearity {NbO} clusters have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. In particular, the combination of the unique {NbO} clusters with copper-amine complexes has led to rare helical nanotubes, which are further linked by alkali metal cations or copper-amine complexes into two 2D similar bamboo-raft-like layered networks (1 and 2), respectively. Compound 1 exhibits effective base-catalytic decomposition of chemical warfare agent simulants dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and diethyl cyanophosphonate (DECP).