Abstract A novel, one-pot, carboxylic acid-catalyzed synthesis of cyanoacetylureas via in situ generated ureas and their cyclization to 6-aminouracils in the presence of the guanidine- based ionic liquid 1, 1, 3, 3-tetramethylguanidine lactate [TMG][Lac] is described. The ureas were synthesized from amines and potassium cyanate, which on reaction with cyanoacetic acid in the presence of acetic anhydride in the same pot afforded cyanoacetylureas, which ...