Ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) catalyzed synthesis of N-substituted decahydroacridine-1,8-diones in PEG

Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was found to be an inexpensive non-toxic and effective medium for the one-pot synthesis of N-substituted decahydroacridine-1,8-diones in the presence of ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN) as the catalyst in high yields. Also, the solvent system can be recovered and reused; making this protocol economically and potentially viable.