Using SnCl4/EtOH as a new, fast, inexpensive and efficient method for aldol condensation of aromatic aldehydes and cycloalkanones

An efficient, mild and environmentally- friendly approach was developed for the synthesis of bis arylidine cycloalkanones. SnCl4 was found as efficient catalyst for cross aldol condensation of cycloalkanones and aromatic aldehyde for synthesis of α,α'-bis(substituted-benzylidine) cycloalkanones in ethanol as a green solvent. In this method, the reaction works easily for a variety of aldehydes with both electron-donating and electron-with-drawing groups to give corresponding α,α’-bis(substituted-benzylidene) cyclohexanones in good to excellent yields. Comparing the known methods, the main advantages of our method are short time, user-friendly, low cost procedure, clean and environmentally benign reagents with ease of separation of the product and mild reaction condition with good to excellent yield for products