OICC Press Iranian Journal of Catalysis 2345-4865 5 1 2024 02 03 Multicomponent preparation of highly functionalized piperidines using FeCl3.6H2O as an efficient catalyst EN Jasem Aboonajmi Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71454, Iran Malek Taher Maghsoodlou Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran Nourallah Hazeri Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran Mojtaba Lashkari Faculty of Science, Velayat University, Iranshahr, Iran. Mohyeddin Safarzaei Department of Chemistry, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, P. O. Box 98135-674, Zahedan, Iran. Moheb Shirzaei Department of Chemistry, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, P. O. Box 98135-674, Zahedan, Iran. Journal Article 2024 02 03 FeCl3.6H2O was used as an efficient catalyst for the synthesis of highly functionalized piperidines via a one-pot five-component reaction of aromatic amines, aromatic aldehydes and β-keto esters in EtOH at room temperature. The remarkable advantages offered by this method are good yields, simple procedure, short reaction times, no need to column chromatography and easy work-up. The structures of all compounds were characterized by comparison of their IR and NMR spectra with authentic samples. Also, the relative stereochemistry of these piperidines has been confirmed by single X-ray crystallography analysis in previously reported literature. Starting materials with electron-deficient or electron-releasing groups were reacted efficiently.