Zirconium oxychloride(ZrOCl2 .8H2O) in ethanol at room temperature is proven to act as a very efficient catalyst for a one-pot synthesis of β-amino ketones from the condensation of aromatic ketones, aromatic aldehydes and aromatic amines in short reaction time. The present environmentally benign procedure for the synthesis of β-amino ketones is suitable for library synthesis and it will find application in the synthesis of potent biologically active molecules. The process presented here is operationally simple, environmentally benign and has excellent yield. Furthermore, the catalyst can be recovered conveniently and reused efficiently.
