Resorcinarene supramolecular organocatalyst for functionalized 1-tetralone synthesis in aqueous medium

Abstract An efficient, straightforward and environmentally benign process has been developed for the synthesis of fluorenone and 1-tetralone derivatives using cyclic 1,3 -dione, malononitrile and dialkylacetylenedicarboxylate as starting materials in aqueous medium. The reaction is favoured in presence of resorcin[4]arene which is effective as a reusable organocatalyst. The catalyst has been easily synthesized and characterized by 1 H, 13 C NMR, IR, XRD and HRMS analyses. Resorcin[4]arene afforded the resulted products in a shorter time and in good yields. The recyclability of the catalyst was established up to 6th cycle by FT-IR and SEM images.