Biginelli reaction in aqueous medium: a greener and sustainable approach to substituted 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones

An environmentally benign aqueous Biginelli protocol for the synthesis of substituted 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones using polystyrenesulfonic acid (PSSA) as a catalyst has been achieved. These microwave-assisted reactions proceed efficiently in water in the absence of organic solvent, with simple filtration as the product isolation step.