A simple, efficient, and environmentally benign route was developed for the preparation of 14-aryl or alkyl-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthene, 1,8-dioxo-octahydroxanthene and 12-aryl—8,9,10,12-tetrahydrobenzo[a]xanthene-11-ones from condensation of various aldehydes with (i) β-naphthol, (ii) cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and (iii) β-naphthol and cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds, using novel polymeric catalyst [poly(AMPS-co-AA)] under solvent-free conditions. Use of easily available catalyst, shorter reaction times, better yields, simplicity of the reaction, heterogeneous system, and easy work-up are the advantages of the present method.
