An array of 1, 4-dihydropyridines (DHP) derivativeswas synthesized by Hantzsch three-component reaction of aromatic aldehydes, ethyl acetoacetate and ammonium acetate using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) as an efficient catalyst in aqueous media. The proposed method was operationally simple and to make the process benign for the environment, water used as a reaction medium. No aromatization of dihydropyridinesproducts was done in the presence of TCCA as an oxidant.