An efficient synthesis of acridine-aza-anthraquinone hybrid compounds under microwave irradiation

The efficient synthesis of 12-substituted-3,4,4a,5,12,12a-hexahydrobenzo[b]acridine-1,6,11(2H)-triones starting from 2-amino-1,4-naphthoquinone, 1,3-cyclohexanedione, and different (hetero)aromatic aldehydes was developed. These reactions were carried out in acetic acid under microwave irradiation in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid as catalyst. The structure of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed employing spectroscopic data as well as elemental analysis. The plausible mechanism of these three-component domino reactions was also described.