Activated Fuller's earth: an efficient, inexpensive, environmentally benign, and reusable catalyst for rapid solvent-free synthesis of 1-(amido/amino)alkyl-2-naphthols

An efficient and entirely green protocol for preparation of 1-(amido/amino)alkyl-2-naphthols via one-pot multi-component reaction of an aldehyde, 2-naphthol or phenol and amides or amines using activated Fuller's earth as a heterogeneous catalyst under the solvent-free condition is described. This catalyst provides several advantages such as low-cost, stability, reusability, and excellent yields. High catalytic activity and ease of recovery are additional eco-friendly attributes of this catalytic system. [GRAPHICS] .