Article history: Received March 27, 2013 Received in Revised form July 27, 2013 Accepted 22 August 2013 Available online 24 August 2013 In these studies, we had observed polyaniline (PANI) supported p-toluene sulfonic acid (TsOH) and FeCl3(PANI-TsOH, PANI-FeCl3) as excellent reusable solid acid catalysts for the synthesis of 1, 8-dioxo-octahydroxanthene derivatives 4(a-g) under solvent-free grinding method at mild conditions. Additionally, in the same optimized condition ferric nitrate nonahydrate also acted as (non-reusable) very reactive inexpensive Lewis acid catalyst. The ferric nitrate nonahydrate lost its activity in the form of Clayfen (Clay-supported ferric nitrate) catalyst. © 2013 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved.