In the current study, a novel acidic ionic liquid catalyst based on 8-hydroxyquinoline, namely 8,8 ',8 ''-([1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triyl]tris[oxy])tris(1-sulfoquinolin-1-ium)chloride (TTS), was designed and synthesized. The structure of the prepared acidic ionic liquid (AIL) was fully investigated by using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, thermogravimetric analysis/differential thermal analysis (TGA/DTA), (HNMR)-H-1, (CNMR)-C-13 and mass spectroscopy. Then, the catalytic performance of described AIL was successfully inspected toward the four-component synthesis of pyridine derivatives via a cooperative vinylogous anomeric-based oxidation. Graphic abstract Novel AIL (TTS) showed a very high efficiency in the synthesis of pyridines.