An easily prepared Fe (III)-derived Lewis acid ionic liquid, [C 4 (mim) 2 ] (FeCl 4 ) 2 , being comprised of dicationic ionic liquid cation and tetrachloroferrate anion, was found to be an efficient, recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of 1, 8-dioxooctahydroxanthenes by one-pot condensation reactions of dimedone/ 1, 3-cyclohexanedione with aromatic aldehydes under mild reaction conditions without utilization of additional organic solvent