Potassium ferro-cyanide trihydrate complex catalyzed one-pot synthesis of 2-phenylimidazo [4,5-f] [1,10] phenanthroline

Various 2-phenylimidazo [4,5-f] [1,10] phenanthrolines were synthesized from potassium ferro-cyanide trihydrate (KFCT) complex catalyzed three component reaction of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione, aromatic aldehydes and ammonium acetate at room temperature in excellent isolated yield. This is a simple and straight forward, high yielding, not involving any hazardous or expensive catalyst method.