The application of non-imidazolium-based ionic liquid [EtPy][BF4] (N-1-ethylpyridinium tetrafluoraborate) as recyclable solvent for the Baylis-Hillman reactions was presented. Compared with the commonly used imidazolium-based ionic liquid [bmim][PF6] (1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) and [bdmim] [PF6] (1-n-butyl-2,3-dimethylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate) that evidently reacts with aldehydes under basic conditions, ionic liquid [EtPy][BF4] is inert and the Baylis-Hillman reactions in [EtPy][BF4] proceed quickly with good yields. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.