The reaction of acetylacetone or sodium salt of oxymethyleneacetone with corresponding aldehydes has been used to prepare 3,5-diacetyl-1,4-dihydropyridines III which have been oxidized to diacetylpyridines VII. These compounds have been transformed by an acid-catalyzed reaction with benzaldehyde into the chalcones VIII which have been utilized for the Kröhnke synthesis of luminophoric terpyridines I and II.