A highly efficient, one-pot synthesis of functionalized tetrahydropyridines by multicomponent condensation of ethyl acetoacetate, two equivalents of aromatic aldehyde, and aromatic amine in the presence of a catalytic amount of NO2-Fe(III)PcCl@C is reported. In this way, a series of pharmacologically interesting substituted pyridine derivatives were obtained in moderate to good yields.

•One 3D pillared-layer coordination polymer has been prepared from a solvohermal reaction.•The pyramid CuII node is connected to afford a rare 3D unipolar pillared-layer framework.•The weak AFM interaction in the 1D chain has been estimated as − 0.15 cm− 1 by fitting the experimental data.One 3D pillared-layer coordination polymer, [Cu(ipa)(bib)0.5(H2O)]∞ (I), has been prepared from a solvothermal reaction of Cu(NO3)2·3H2O with isophthalic acid (H2ipa) and 1,4-bis(imidazolyl)benzene (bib). The pyramid CuII node is connected by the ipa2 − ion into a 2D simplified (4,4) layer with a 1D syn-anti-COO−–CuII chain. The 2D layer is further unilaterally pillared by the bib spoke to afford a rare 3D unipolar pillared-layer framework. The overall topology can be described as a 6-connected self-catenated mab topology with point symbol of {44.610.8} through crosslink the (4,4) sheets. The magnetic properties have been studied, and the weak AFM interaction in the 1D chain has been estimated as − 0.15 cm− 1 by fitting the experimental data. Furthermore, the magneto-structural correlation has been well discussed.One 3D pillared-layer coordination polymer has been prepared from a solvothermal reaction of Cu(NO3)2·3H2O with isophthalic acid (H2ipa) and 1,4-bis(imidazolyl)benzene (bib). The pyramid CuII node is connected by the ipa2 − ion and the bib spoke to afford a rare 3D unipolar pillared-layer framework. The overall topology can be described as a 6-connected self-catenated mab topology with point symbol of {44.610.8} through crosslink the (4,4) sheets. The weak AFM interaction in the 1D chain has been estimated as − 0.15 cm− 1 by fitting the experimental data. Furthermore, the magneto-structural correlation has been well discussed.