Nano aluminium nitride in the presence of water acts as solid source of ammonia, which is used for the preparation of 1,4-dihydropyridines and bis-(1,4-dihydropyridines). An efficient and simple procedure for the one-pot synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridine and bis-(1,4-dihydropyridine) derivatives was achieved by combination of methyl acetoacetate or ethyl acetoacetate with aldehydes or dialdehydes and aluminium nitride at 80 degrees C in water in high purity and good yields.
