An efficient and easy protocol for the one-pot three-component synthesis of phenylbenzo[g]chromenes was developed. The synthesis was achieved by the reaction of aromatic aldehydes, Meldrum’s acid, and 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione in the presence of catalytic amount of Co(NO3)2·6H2O at room temperature. The important advantages of this procedure are short reaction times, high yields, easy work-up, reusable catalyst, and no need to column chromatography.
A new series of potential inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II were synthesized from facile materials (aromatic aldehydes, Meldrum’s acid and 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione) under microwave irradiation. The method provides a valuable tool in designing new and more potent cytotoxic analogues. This procedure is advantageous both economically and environmentally.