Simultaneous sonication assistance for the synthesis of tetrahydropyridines and its efficient catalyst ZrP2O7 nanoparticles

•Ultrasonic assisted synthesis of nano zirconium pyrophosphate.•We used nano ZrP2O7 as reusable catalyst for the synthesis of tetrahydropyridines.•The products were synthesised in short times and high yields compared with those of previous methods.

In this research, a general synthetic method for the synthesis of tetrahydropyridines were developed using ZrP2O7 nanoparticles under ultrasonic irradiations. Firstly by a simple and green process, nano zirconium pyrophosphate was prepared via sonication. Subsequently, this nanoparticle was used as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of highly functionalized tetrahydropyridines via five-component reaction of aromatic aldehyde, amine and ethyl acetoacetate in ethanol under ultrasound irradiation. The present approach offers several advantages such as high yields, environmentally benign, simple work-up, excellent yield of products, short reaction times as well as recoverability and reusability of the catalyst.