Synthesis of 1,4-Dihydropyridines by Regioselective Additions of Benzylic Zinc Bromides to Pyridinium Salts and Their Aromatizations to 4-Benzylpyridines

Abstract

Abstract Benzylic zinc reagents add with high regioselectivity to 1-(phenoxycarbonyl) salts of methyl nicotinate to yield methyl-1-(phenoxylcarbonyl)-4-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinates. The dihydronicotinates on heating with sulfur in decalin afford methyl 4-benzylnicotinates.