Students in the undergraduate organic laboratory synthesize tetrahydro-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-4-phenyl-2H-pyran via the Montmorillonite K10 clay-catalyzed reaction of pnitrobenzaldehye with methanol, 3-buten-1-ol, and benzene. The synthesis comprises an environmentally friendly tandem Prins−Friedel−Crafts-type multicomponent reaction (MCR) and sets the stage for investigation of reaction scope through student research projects with other carbonyl substrates.

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