Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) has been demonstrated as an efficient surfactant mediated catalyst for the synthesis of dihydropyrimidinone derivatives by the Biginelli condensation of aldehydes, beta-dicarbonyls, and urea/thiourea. The one-pot three component reaction was accomplished in aqueous micellar media affording excellent yield of the products. The reaction being facile and simple is also supplemented with merits like eco-friendly catalyst, aqueous reaction media and non-chromatographic methods of purification. The versatility of this method was examined with various substituted aldehydes and has proved to be proficient with satisfactory results. (C) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.