Green synthesis of bis-coumarin derivatives using Fe(SD)3 as a catalyst and investigation of their biological activities

A convenient, practical, green, and environmentally friendly method was developed for the synthesis of biscoumarins and corresponding tetrakis products from the reaction of 4-hydroxycoumarin and various aldehydes. The bis-coumarins were synthesized in high yield under mild reaction conditions. Products were obtained in the presence of in situ prepared Fe(SD)₃ [Iron(III) dodecyl sulfate] as a combined Lewis acid–surfactant catalyst (LASC) in water in short reaction times. Also, the antibacterial activity of compounds was screened against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli as Gram-negative bacteria and Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus as Gram-positive bacterial strains. Products 3g , 3k–l were most active than cefotaxime against E. coli and also compounds 3c and 3g were most active than cefotaxime against S. aureus.