Fe(ClO4)3 x 6H2O: a mild and efficient catalyst for one-pot three component synthesis of beta-acetamido carbonyl compounds under solvent-free conditions.

A one-pot multi-component reaction for the synthesis of beta-acetamido carbonyl compounds is reported. The reaction uses a variety of aldehydes, acetophenone derivatives or methyl acetoacetate, acetonitrile, and acetyl chloride in the presence of ferric perchlorate, a mild, efficient and inexpensive catalyst effective under solvent free conditions.