Biginelli Reaction: A Multi-Component Type of Reaction and Synthetic Advancement in the Synthesis of Bioactive Dihydropyrimidinone Derivatives

Background In synthetic and medicinal chemistry, multi-component reactions (MCRs) are considered an essential tool in synthesizing bioactive heterocyclic scaffolds. These reactions have been strategically used in drug discovery and development because of ease and economy.Objective The current manuscript aims to highlight the importance of the Biginelli reaction in the synthesis of diverse dihydropyrimidinones with medicinal applications.Methods We searched various keywords, including "multicomponent reaction", "Biginelli reaction" and "dihydropyrimidinone" on "PubMed, PubChem, and google scholar" and collected the relevant articles for including the current work.Results Biginelli reaction involving ketoester, aldehyde, and urea is a high-yielding, atom-economical, environmentally benign reaction for developing a library of new dihydropyrimidinones to drive the process of drug discovery. Several developments were achieved with modifications of synthetic techniques, including C-H activation, coupling, cycloaddition, etc. Inclusively, these modifications give access to a wide range of dihydropyrimidinones.Conclusion The current review provides an overview of recent developments in the Biginelli reaction and insights into synthesizing bioactive dihydropyrimidinones.