Fe 3 O 4 nanoparticles as an efficient and reusable catalyst for the solvent-free synthesis of 9,9-dimethyl-9,10-dihydro-8 H -benzo-[ a ]xanthen-11(12 H )-ones

A simple and efficient method for the synthesis of 9,9-dimethyl-9,10-dihydro-8H-benzo-[α]xanthen-11(12)-one derivatives (DDBXs) was developed by the condensation reaction of various substituted aryl aldehydes with 2-naphthol and dimedone using Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as a heterogeneous catalyst under solvent-free conditions at 90–110 °C. The experimental procedure is very simple, the products are formed in high yields and the catalyst is easily separated by applying an external magnetic field.