The combination of aromatic aldehydes, and 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds in the presence of a catalytic amount of poly(N,N'-dibromo-N-ethyl-benzene-1,3-disulfonamide) [PBBS] and N,N,N',N'-tetrabromobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide [TBBDA] leads to the formation of highly substituted tetrahydropyridines. In this way, a series of pharmacologically interesting substituted piperidine derivatives were obtained in moderate to high yields at room temperature. (C) 2013 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.