Thermodynamic control and aromaticity driven instantaneous reaction strategy co-jointly result in three noble-metal based bimetallic nanostructures (namely Au-Pt, Au-Pd and Pd-Pt) through a surfactant-free pathway. Non-aromatic hantzsch 2, 4-dihydropyridine ester (DHPE) is proposed here as a reducing agent and in turn through the acquirement of aromaticity, DHPE provides a general route for the fast synthesis of these bimetallic nanoparticles. The Au-M (M=Pd, Pt) nanostructures are of typically core-shell type structure where Au forms the core and the shell is made of either Pd or Pt. Overwhelmingly, the same synthetic strategy leads to the formation of alloy nanostructures for Pd-Pt. The growth kinetics, reaction mechanism as well as the morphology of the particles could be supported with the redox properties of the precursor salts. The well-recognized catalytic activity of both Pt and Pd has been capitalized here in Pd-Pt alloy particles, which bring synergistic effect to engender its highest electrocatalytic performance and stability towards ethylene glycol oxidation reaction in comparison to the other electrocatalysts (AuPd, Au-Pt and commercial Pt/C). In addition, as-synthesized highly electroactive material Pd-Pt becomes an electrochemical sensor for explosive 2, 4 dinitrotoluene (DNT) with an impressive limit of detection (LOD) of similar to 0.82 mu M. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.