A simple and efficient one-pot, three-component synthetic method for the preparation of coumarin-3-carboxamides was carried out by the reaction of salicylaldehyde, aliphatic primary/secondary amines, and diethylmalonate. The protocol employs piperidine-iodine as a dual system catalyst and ethanol, a green solvent. The main advantages of this approach are that it is a metal-free and clean reaction, has low catalyst loading, and requires no tedious workup.

A series of coumarin-3-carboxamides were synthesized via a three-component reaction involving salicylaldehyde, aliphatic primary/secondary amines, and diethylmalonate. Li–Al containing layered double hydroxides were utilized as an eco-friendly heterogeneous catalyst in this process. The materials were prepared using a straightforward co-precipitation method and were thoroughly characterized using techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The catalysts exhibited commendable performance, attaining product yields of up to 90% in an ethanol environment. Moreover, the layered double hydroxide catalysts can be efficiently recovered and recycled up to four times without substantial loss of catalytic activity. This method offers the advantages of a simple and clean synthetic route, easy work-up and waste minimization.

Chalcones are compounds containing an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl group that have been studied due to their structural simplicity, ease of synthesis, and broad spectrum of biological activities. Within this family, nitrochalcones have gained relevance due to the influence of the nitro group (–NO₂) on the modulation of their electronic properties, chemical reactivity, and pharmacological behavior. This review presents a critical analysis of advances in the biological activities and possible mechanisms of action of nitrochalcones and their derivatives, with an emphasis on their structure–activity relationships and therapeutic potential. The available evidence shows that nitrochalcones and their derivatives act as multitarget molecules, capable of intervening in key biological processes such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and cell signaling pathways associated with proliferation and apoptosis. Several studies report anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, antifungal, and cardiovascular activities, often with favorable selectivity toward pathological cells over healthy cells.

In this study, an alternative methodology for the aqueous synthesis of chalcones is presented. This procedure is performed on a green basis at room temperature (25–40 °C) and using KOH. From this method, thirty-seven derivatives were obtained with yields of up to 98%. In addition, many compounds were recovered sufficiently pure by direct filtration and washing with water. The manuscript is accompanied by a study that demonstrates that the yield of the products and the reaction mechanism, which occurs on-water and in-water, are directly affected by the solubility and physical state of the starting materials.