A facile one-pot three-component protocol for the synthesis of a series of multi-functionalized 2,3-disubstituted isoindolin-1-ones has been developed using ZrO2 nanoparticles as a dual acid-base solid support under solvent-free conditions. The surface of the ZrO2 nanoparticles, which is embedded with active hydroxyl groups, oxyanions and Zr4+ ions, efficiently catalyses the condensation of 2-carboxybenzaldehyde, aliphatic amines and a nucleophile (enamines/6-amino 1,3-dimethyluracil/1,3-cyclohexadiones/indole) to produce 2,3-disubstituted isoindolin-1-ones. Operational simplicity, reduced reaction time and temperature, elimination of solvent, high yields of products, wider substrate scope, utilization of ZrO2 nanoparticles as a solid support, and its nearly undiminished catalytic activity after repeated applications, are the key features of the present methodology. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2016.