One-pot synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridines via a phenylboronic acid catalyzed Hantzsch three-component reaction

A simple, inexpensive, and efficient one-pot synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives was achieved in good yields via the three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, ethyl acetoacetate, and ammonium acetate using PhB(OH)(2) as catalyst.