Synthesis of Poly-substituted Hydroquinolines Employing Lactic Acid as a Robust Catalyst through the Diastereoselective, One-pot Eight-component Reaction

With the aim of developing an efficient and eco-friendly method for a diastereoselective synthesis of dispiro[tetrahydroquinoline-bis(2,2-dimethyl[1,3] dioxane-4,6-dione)] derivatives, a one-pot pseudo-eight-components reaction between arylamines, aromatic aldehydes and Meldrum’s acid has occurred in the presence of lactic acid as catalyst. The salient aspects of this protocol are, operational simplicity, facile product separation, a cheap and eco-friendly catalyst, clean reaction conditions, absence of any hazardous organic solvent and moderate to high yields.