Molecular iodine catalyzed synthesis of aryl-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes under solvent-free condition

Molecular iodine efficiently catalyzes the reaction of beta-naphthol and araldehydes on a preheated hot plate at 90-95 degrees C to give biologically active aryl-14H-dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes under solvent-free condition. The yields are excellent and the reactions go to completion within 15-20 min. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.