Poly(4-vinylpyridinium) hydrogensulfate catalyzed synthesis of 12-aryl-12H-indeno[1,2-b]naphtho[3,2-e]pyran-5,11,13-triones

A simple and facile synthesis of 12-aryl-12H-indeno[1,2-b]naphtho[3,2-e]pyran-5,11,13-trione derivatives was accomplished via the one-pot condensation of 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione, aldehydes, and 2H-indene-1,3-dione at 100 °C under solvent-free conditions in the presence of the solid acid catalyst, poly(4-vinylpyridinium) hydrogensulfate. This method has the advantages of high yields, clean reactions, simple methodology, and short reaction times. The catalyst could be recycled and reused four times without significant loss of activity. The structures of the novel compounds were confirmed by IR, ¹H NMR, and elemental analysis.