An efficient methodf or the synthesis of 1,2-dihydropyridine derivatives from simple andr eadily available aromatic ketones, DMF,a mines and propargylic alcohols has been developed via aB rønsted-acid-catalyzed multicompo-nent one-pot reaction. This reaction proceeded smoothly under metal-and ligand-free conditions in good yields, leading to functional organic molecules, via as elf-organized sequence.Scheme1.Single Brønsted-acid-catalyzed strategy.Scheme2.Biologicallyactive dihydropyridine and tetrahydropyridine derivatives.

Bisbenzothienyl iridium(III) complexes, [Ir(bt)2(PR3)]X (bt: 2-phenylbenzo[ d]thiazole, R = n-Bu or Ph, X = OTf, BF4 or SbF6) are reported, two of which, (R = n-Bu or Ph, X = OTf), have been characterised by X-ray crystallography. The complexes are thermally stable and their photophysical properties are presented, together with their catalytic activity in the “borrowing hydrogen reaction” of alcohols with amines.