Abstract
A green protocol has been developed for the preparation of 2,2′-(arylmethylene)bis(3-hydroxy-5,5-dimethylcyclohex-2-en-1-ones) following the multicomponent condensation reaction between aromatic aldehydes and dimedone with excellent yields. The reaction was carried out in water under microwave irradiation in the presence of montmorillonite KSF as a catalyst. The synthesized compounds were used for the functionalization of MCM-41 silica nanoparticles prepared by the modified Stöber method.