DBU: a highly efficient catalyst for one-pot synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromenes, dihydropyrano[4,3-b]pyranes, 2-amino-4H-benzo[h]chromenes and 2-amino-4H benzo[g]chromenes in aqueous medium

wWe have reported DBU catalyzed one-pot synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrano[3,2-c]chromenes, dihydropyrano[4,3-b]pyranes, 2-amino-4H-benzo[h]chromenes and 2-amino-4H-benzo[g]chromenes from aldehydes, active methylene compounds malononitrile/ethyl cyanocacetate, and 4-hydroxycoumarin/4-hydroxy-6-methylpyrone/1-naphthol/2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione in water under reflux. The attractive features of this process are mild reaction conditions, reusability of the reaction media, short reaction times, easy isolation of products, and excellent yields. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.