Nitrovinyl substituted calix[4]pyrrole as a unique, reaction-based chemosensor for cyanide anion

A new calix[4]pyrrole bearing a nitrovinyl group at β-pyrrolic position was synthesized and studied as a cyanide selective chemodosimetric sensor. Selective Michael-type nucleophilic addition of cyanide to the α-position of the nitrovinyl group followed by β-elimination resulted in the unique product 3.