An efficient and convenient approach for the synthesis of novel 2‐hydroxy‐12‐aryl‐8,9,10,12‐tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthene‐11‐ones using p‐toluenesulfonic acid in ethanol and ionic liquid

A novel series of 2‐hydroxy‐12‐aryl‐8,9,10,12‐tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthene‐11‐ones were synthesized by the one‐pot multicomponent condensation of 2,7‐dihydroxynaphthalene, aromatic aldehydes, and cyclic 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of a catalytic amount of p‐toluenesulfonic acid in ethanol and in ionic liquid butyl methyl imidazolium tetrafluroborate ([bmim]BF₄). The newly developed protocol is operationally convenient, widely applicable, and gives excellent yields of the diversely substituted title compounds in high purity by easy workup. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2011).