A facile and efficient method for the preparation of 3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-9- (1,2-dihydro-2-oxoquinolin-3-yl)-2H-xanthene-1,8(5H,9H)-diones from substituted 2-chloro-3-formylquinoline and 1,3-cyclohexanedione or dimedone in water at 90 °C using parallel synthesizer is reported. The present methodology offers a tandem-cascade methodology, high yield, and operational simplicity. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.