A simple, efficient and cost-effective method for the synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-one by a one-pot three-component cyclocon-densation reaction of a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound, an aldehyde and urea or thiourea using 12-tungstophosphoric acid as a recyclable catalyst is reported. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.