Sustainable construction: admicellar catalysed synthesis of pyrimido[4,5-b]quinolines in an aqueous system

Abstract

A simple and highly efficient strategy has been documented for the rapid and convenient synthesis of 1-methyl-5-phenylbenzo[g]pyrimido[4,5-b]quinoline-2,4,6,11(1H,3H)-tetraone from aldehydes, 2-hydroxynaphthalene1,4dione and 6-aminouracil in the presence of nano ZnO under an aqueous admicellar system at 80 °C. Results show that nano ZnO is a potential catalyst for the synthesis of pyrimido[4,5-b]quinoline. Nano ZnO was recovered and reused efficiently several times for the synthesis of the desired product which is an essential parameter of green synthesis. The reported method represents an eco-friendly alternative to classical protocols. Nano size of ZnO was confirmed by EDS, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and XRD techniques.