Organocatalyst trityl chloride efficiently promoted the solvent-free synthesis of 12-aryl-8,9,10,12-tetrahydrobenzo[a]-xanthen-11-ones by in situ formation of carbocationic system in neutral media

A highly efficient and novel procedure for the preparation of 12-aryl-8,9,10,12-tetrahydrobenzo[a]-xanthen-11-one derivatives via the one-pot three-component condensation of 2-naphthol with arylaldehydes and dimedone in the presence of catalytic amount of trityl chloride (TrCl) as a homogeneous organocatalyst under natural and solvent-free conditions is described. It is interesting that TrCl by in situ formation of trityl carbocation with inherent instability catalyzes the reaction.

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► Introducing an efficient method for synthesis of xanthene derivatives.
► The use of trityl chloride as a non-acidic and homogeneous organocatalyst.
► In situ formation of carbocationic system in neutral media to catalyze reaction.
► Application of solvent-free conditions in reaction.