Water mediated oxalic acid catalyzed one pot synthesis of 1,8-dioxodecahydroacridines

A simple and convenient one step method for synthesis of acridines and its derivatives from condensation of aromatic aldehydes, cyclic diketones, aryl amines or ammonium acetates using water as a reaction medium is reported. The present protocol provides several advantages such as good yields, cheap catalyst, short reaction time, easy work-up, simplicity in operation. The use of environmentally benign water as a solvent supports the green aspect of method