Efficient and direct synthesis of poly-substituted indeno[1,2-b]quinolines assisted by p-toluene sulfonic acid using high-temperature water and microwave heating via one-pot, three-component reaction.

Reactions of aldehydes, 1,3-indanedione and enaminones were successfully carried out using p-toluene sulfonic acid (p-TsOH) as a catalyst and high-temperature water as a solvent under microwave irradiation. This method provided several advantages such as rapid reaction times, high yields, and a simple workup procedure. In addition, a possible mechanism to account for the reaction was proposed.