Facile catalyst-free pseudo five-component domino reactions in the expedient synthesis of 5-aroyl-1,3-diarylhexahydropyrimidines

The pseudo five-component domino reactions of (E)-3-(dimethylamino)-1-arylprop-2-en-1-one, formaldehyde and aniline afford 5-aroyl-1,3-diarylhexahydropyrimidines in good yields under catalyst-free conditions. This transformation involving 4 C–N and 1 C–C bond formations in a one pot operation presumably proceeds via Michael addition–elimination–Mannich type reaction-condensative annulation–reduction sequence.