A novel synthesis of nitroform by the nitrolysis of cucurbituril

Cucurbituril has a high symmetry and rigid structure. When cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]) was nitrolyzed with the mixed solution of acetic anhydride in fuming nitric acid, nitroform (NF) was generated. NF also can be obtained by the nitration of both CB[5,7,8]. This nitration procedure provides a lower risk, inexpensive, new preparation of nitroform, and the reaction condition of this new method is very mild.