A highly efficient synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones/thiones in 2-ethylhexanoic acid as green, low cost and recoverable catalytic medium, illustrates good synthetic utility of this method.  Key Words:  2-ethylhexanoic acid, 3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones/thiones, organocatalyst.