A simple and facile procedure for the synthesis of 14-aryl- or 14-alkyl-14H-dibenzo[aj]xanthenes is described. The procedure takes place by the one-pot condensation of 2-naphthol with aldehydes in the presence of anhydrous ceric sulfate as the catalyst under solvent-free conventional heating and microwave irradiation.Key words: xanthene, one-pot condensation, aldehyde, 2-naphthol, ceric sulfate, solvent-free, microwave irradiation.