Facile synthesis of 5-benzylidene rhodamine derivatives under microwave irradiation

A series of 5-benzylidenerhodamine derivatives were synthesized by the cross-aldol condensation of an aromatic aldehyde with rhodamine or rhodamine acetic acid in sodium acetate/acetic acid under microwave irradiation. The reaction was completed in 8 - 20 min with 63 - 94% yields and was environmentally benign with easy workup.