Molecular iodine-catalyzed one-pot synthesis of some new Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridines at ambient temperature

An efficient and simple one-pot synthesis of some new symmetrical, unsymmetrical and Nsubstituted Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridines using molecular iodine as catalyst from an aldehyde, a 1,3-dicarbonyl compound and ammonium acetate / aromatic amine in ethanol is described.This new method has the advantage of good to excellent yields (80-95%) and short reaction times (2.5-5 h) at ambient temperature.