SummaryThe multicomponent reaction of 5-aminopyrazole derivatives with cyclic 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds and dimethylformamide dimethylacetal (DMFDMA) in DMF at 150 °C under controlled microwave heating afforded regioselectively 8,9-dihydropyrazolo[1,5-a]quinazolin-6(7H)-ones 6 rather than the corresponding dihydropyrazolo[5,1-b]quinazolin-8(5H)-ones 4.