A series of 4-aryl-3,7,7-trimethyl-1-phenyl-7,8-dihydro-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolin- 5(6H)-ones were synthesized by the three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, 3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-amine, and 5,5-dimethyl-1,3-cyclohexandione in the presence of sodium 1-dodecanesulfonate in aqueous medium. Compared to the previous methods, this new protocol has the advantages of convenient operation, higher yields, lower cost, and environmentally benign procedure. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2012).