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.