Abstract The Zn-VCO 3 hydrotalcite was found to be an excellent solid catalyst for the one- pot synthesis of triphenylpyridine-3, 5-dicarboxamide via Hantzsch reaction of acetoacetanilide, ammonium hydroxide and various aromatic aldehydes. The combinatorial syntheses were achieved for the first time using hydrotalcite as a heterogeneous catalyst. The catalyst was active for the Hantzsch reaction in water at 60 C. The products were ...