Abstract Graphite oxide (GO) was found to function as an auto-tandem oxidation–hydration– aldol coupling catalyst for the formation of chalcones in a single reaction vessel. Various alkynes or alcohols were hydrated or oxidized in situ to their corresponding methyl ketones or aldehydes, respectively, which underwent a subsequent Claisen–Schmidt condensation. Each of the aforementioned reactions proceeded in the absence of metals (confirmed by ...