A Mild Silica Gel Promoted Synthesis and Initial Functional Study of Tetrapyridyl Tetrahydropyrrolopyrrolones.

A one-pot strategy with yields up to 82% was reported to generate 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-2-(3,3a,6-tris(5-pyridin-2-yl)-5-oxohexahydropyrrolo[3,2- b ] pyrrol-2(1 H )-ylidene)acetonitrile 1a and its derivatives 1b - d . Silica gel promoted quantitative conversion from stable intermediate to 1a within 30 min at room temperature. Finally, four chemical σ bonds and two chiral carbons with high diastereoselectivity were achieved. Compound 1a can act as a novel high selective UV-vis and fluorescence "turn-on" probe for Zn 2+ and Cd 2+ , respond to proton, and show dual-state emission (DSE) characteristics.