Several 5-cinnamoyl- and 5-(ethoxycarbonyl)-6-styryl derivatives of 4-aryl-3,4-dihydropyrimidin-2(1H)-ones were obtained and their physicochemical properties were investigated. The introduction of alkyl substituent in position 1 of dihydropyrimidine ring was shown to promote the Claisen-Schmidt reaction on acetyl group only; without the alkyl both acetyl and 6-methyl groups participate in the reaction.