Organocatalyst trityl chloride (Ph3CCl), by in situ formation of trityl carbocation with inherent instability, efficiently catalyzes the condensation of dimedone (5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexanedione) (2 equiv.) with arylaldehydes (1 equiv.) under solvent-free conditions to afford 9-aryl-1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthenes in high to excellent yields and in relatively short reaction times. Formation of the carbocationic system is confirmed by studying IR, 1H […]
