Multicomponent Biginelli's synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones promoted by SnCl2•2H2O

The ability of SnCl2.2H(2)O as catalyst to promote the Biginelli three-component condensation reaction from a diversity of aromatic aldehydes, ethyl acetoacetate and urea or thiourea is described. The reaction was carried out in acetonitrile or ethanol as solvents in neutral media and represents an improvement of the classical Biginelli protocol and an advantage in comparison with FeCl3.6H(2)O, NiCl2.6H(2)O and CoCl2.6H(2)O which were used with HCl as co-catalyst. The synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidinones was achieved in good to excellent yields.