A simple and efficient protocol for the synthesis of highly substituted xanthenes is developed through the condensation of β-naphthol, aldehyde, and 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione with zirconium oxychloride octahydrate as a catalyst under solvent free condition at 120°c.
Keywords: Xanthene, ZrOCl2.8H2O, solvent-free condition, one-pot synthesis, multicomponent reaction.