A rapid, one-pot, four-component route to 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-triones

A new, efficient, and environmentally benign protocol for the one-pot, four-component synthesis of 2,2-dimethyl-13-phenyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-1,6,11(13H)-trione by condensation of phthalic anhydride, hydrazinium hydroxide, aromatic aldehydes, and dimedone catalyzed by Ce(SO4)2·4H2O as an ecofriendly catalyst with high catalytic activity and reusability at 125 °C under solvent-free conditions is reported. The reaction proceeds to completion within 5–10 min in 71–95% yield. To the best of our knowledge, this new procedure provides the first example of an efficient synthetic method for 2H-indazolo[2,1-b]phthalazine-1,6,11(13H)-trione via a four-component reaction.