A simple and efficient large-scale synthesis of 3-hydroxyphthalans via oxa-Pictet–Spengler reaction catalyzed by nanosilica sulfuric acid

Nanosilica sulfuric acid is found to be a new, powerful and reusable heterogeneous catalyst for the rapid synthesis of 3-hydroxyphthalans via condensation of aromatic aldehydes and 3-hydroxybenzyl alcohols under conventional heating and microwave irradiation. Scale-up preparation of these heterocycles is also carried out.