p‐TSA Catalyzed One‐Pot Synthesis of Novel Chromen and Benzo[h]quinoline‐Based Trisubstituted Methanes

A straightforward one‐pot synthesis of novel trisubstituted methanes (TRSMs) has been attained through a three‐component reaction involving 4‐hydroxybenzo[ h ]quinolin‐2(1 H )‐one, 4‐amino‐2 H ‐chromen‐2‐one, and various aldehyde derivatives, using p ‐TSA. p ‐Toluene sulfonic acid ( p ‐TSA), a non‐toxic, cost‐effective, easily accessible, and environmentally friendly organic acid catalyst, was investigated for its ability to mediate this reaction. The salient features of this protocol are: good to excellent yields of products (84%–92%), short reaction times, excellent compatibility with various functional groups, and a cost‐effective catalyst that eliminates the need for column chromatography. Furthermore, these TRSMs are expected to make significant contributions as highly valuable compounds in drug design and the development of novel therapies, owing to their broad and diverse biologically active moieties. The structures of these newly synthesized TRSMs were determined using IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis.