Abstract: A novel catalyst indium(Ⅲ) tribromide is shown to efficiently promote 5-carbonyl-4-aryl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones from a three-component coupling of β-diketones, aldehydes and urea in ethanol. This modified one-pot Biginelli′s cyclocondensation not only features simple operation, but also takes place in nonpolluted environment. The structure of the Biginelli reaction product from β-diketones, salicylaldehyde and urea has been proposed to possess an oxygen-bridge.

Key words: Biginelli reaction, Indium(Ⅲ) tribromide, 3,4-Dihydropyrimidinone, Oxygen bridge