The ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazole acetate ([EMIM]OAc) was found to be a mild and effective catalyst for the efficient, one-pot, three-component synthesis of 1,4-dihydropyridines from arylaldehydes, ethylacetoacetate/acetylacetone and ammonium acetate at room temperature under sonication. The developed method has many advantages, including devoid of harmful catalysts, reacting at room temperature, higher yields in a simple methodology or operational convenience.