Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones are important pharmacophores that previously required a three step synthesis with two chromatography steps. We herein report a green approach to the synthesis of this pharmacologically important class of compounds via a catalytic four-component reaction using a ketone, ethyl cyanoacetate, S8 and formamide. The reported reaction is characterized by step economy, reduced catalyst loading and easy purification.
Keywords: catalytic; green chemistry; multi-component reaction; thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-ones.