New light on an old story: facile and efficient synthesis of 1,3-diaryl-5-spirohexahydropyrimidines via a six-molecule, three-component mannich-type reaction.

A facile and efficient synthesis of 1,3-diaryl-5-spirohexahydropyrimidines via a one-pot condensation of anilines, formaldehyde, and cyclohexanones is reported. In this one-pot, three-component reaction, six molecules of reactants are involved and six new covalent bonds are generated. Bicyclic products are obtained from the starting materials in one pot using readily available starting materials and catalysts.