Remarkable Acceleration of Benzimidazole Synthesis and Cyanosilylation Reactions in a Supramolecular Solid Catalyst

A solid metal–organic catalyst with hydrophobic pockets and Lewis acid centers strongly accelerates the reaction rate for organic reactions. This is exemplified for the cyanosilylation of ketones and for the synthesis of benzimidazoles, for which very high selectivities are obtained. The solid can be recovered and reused and its behavior approaches that of a functional enzyme mimic.