This study investigated the selective synthesis of aryl-bis(2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl)methane for the first time under microwave irradiation in solvent-free medium within 5 min using 10 mol % of B(HSO4)3 (BSA) as reusable solid acid catalyst. The same reaction could also be conducted at 90-100 °C in neat for the formation of alkyl or aryl 14H-dibenzoxanthenes in presence of BSA catalyst with excellent yields.

In these studies, we had observed polyaniline (PANI) supported p-toluene sulfonic acid (TsOH) and FeCl3 (PANI- TsOH, PANI-FeCl3) as excellent reusable solid acid catalysts for the synthesis of 1, 8-dioxo-octahydroxanthene derivatives 4(a-g) under solvent-free grinding method at mild conditions. Additionally, in the same optimized condition ferric nitrate nonahydrate also acted as (non-reusable) very reactive inexpensive Lewis acid catalyst. The ferric nitrate nonahydrate lost its activity in the form of Clayfen (Clay-supported ferric nitrate) catalyst.