Theophylline as a new and green catalyst for the one-pot synthesis of spiro[benzo[α]pyrano[2,3-c]phenazine]and benzo[α]pyrano[2,3-c]phenazine derivatives under solvent-free conditions

A green,convenient,high yielding and one-pot procedure for the synthesis of novel spirobenzoα]pyrano2,3-c]phenazine]derivatives by domino multi-component condensation reaction between 2-hydroxynaphthalene-l,4-dione,benzene-l,2-diamines,ninhydrine,and malononitrile in the presence of a catalytic amount of 1,3-dimethyl-7H-purine-2,6-dione(theophylline) as an expedient,eco-friendly and reusable solid base catalyst under thermal,microwave irradiation and solvent-free conditions.This procedure has also been applied successfully for the synthesis of benzoα]pyrano2,3-c]phenazines.