fe3o4 nanoparticles: a highly efficient and easily reusable catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of xanthene derivatives under solvent-free conditions

Magnetically separable Fe3O4 nanoparticles supply environmentally friendly procedure for the synthesis of 14-aryl-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthene and 1,8-dioxo-octahydro-xanthene derivatives. These compounds were obtained in high yields and short reaction times by the reaction of dimedone and 2-naphthol with various aromatic aldehydes under solvent-free conditions. The catalyst coluld be easily recovered using an external magnet and reused for six cycles with almost consistent activity.