A facile and general procedure is presented for diethylamine-catalyzed double crossed aldol condensation of cyclic ketones with various aromatic aldehydes under aqueous conditions. Excellent yields of 3,5-bisarylmethylidenes of homocyclic and heterocyclic ketones are achieved in a one-pot procedure. Furthermore, the methodology is efficiently applied to the synthesis of chalcones from their corresponding methyl ketones. In the majority of the cases studied, products precipitate from the reaction mixtures and the medium is recycled in subsequent several reactions without significant loss of activity.
aldol condensation; aqueous conditions; organocatalyst; bisarylmethylidenes; chalcones
