A highly efficient and simple procedure for the preparation of 1-amidoalkyl-2-naphthols via one-pot three-component condensation reaction of 2-naphthol, arylaldehydes and acetonitrile (Ritter type reaction) in the presence of catalytic amount of trityl chloride at room temperature is described. The reactions proceed in high yields and in relatively short reaction times. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.