Synthesis of tetrasubstituted pyrroles by the three-component condensation reaction of acid chlorides, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates, and amino acids in the presence of various room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) as catalysts in water is reported. Among the ionic liquids used, the basic functionalized ionic liquid, butyl methyl imidazolium hydroxide [bmim]OH, was the most effective catalyst. The influence of reaction temperature, reaction time, and amount of ionic liquid on the reaction was investigated. The [bmim]OH/H(2)O catalyst system could be reused for at least five recycles without appreciable loss of efficiency.