β-Cyclodextrin mediated synthesis of 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes in water

An experimentally simple, efficient Michael addition reaction was developed for the synthesis of various 1,8-dioxooctahydroxanthene derivatives with 1,3-cyclohexanedione/5,5-dimethyl 1,3-cyclohexane dione and different aldehydes by using β-cyclodextrin as a catalyst in water. A biomimetic approach was employed and the corresponding products were obtained in good to excellent yields. β-cyclodextrin can be recovered and reused upto four cycles without loss of catalytic activity.