Indium triflate-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of 14-alkyl or aryl-14h-dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes in water

Abstract

A mild, efficient, and environment friendly method has been developed for the synthesis of 14-alkyl or aryl-14H-dibenzo[a, j]xanthenes by condensation of 2-naphthol and aldehydes in the presence of a catalytic amount ofindium(III) triflate (2 mol%) in water at 100°C. Different types of aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes are used in the reaction, and in all cases the products synthesized in moderate to excellent yields. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.