The synthesis of a new class of lawsone enaminone derivatives by using lawsone, triethyl orthoformate and aromatic amines in the presence of guanidinium chloride under solvent-free conditions has been developed.

: A clean and efficient one-pot protocol for the synthesis of a series of new 2-hydroxy-3-((3-aryl)(heteroarylamino)methyl)naphthalene-1,4-dione derivatives has been developed by the three-component reaction of 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-dione, aromatic aldehydes and heterocyclic amines at 90 oC under solvent and catalyst-free conditions. The procedure avoids the use of toxic solvents, tedious work-up, catalyst and purification of the products by chromatographic methods. Simple operation, short reaction times, generating the desired compounds in high to excellent yields and an environmentally benign method are advantages of this protocol.