Synthesis of 1,4-Dihydropyridine Carboxylic Acids (III)

2,6-Dimethyl-4-(3'-nitrophenyl)1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid 5-(2'-cyanoethyl) ester 10a reacted with chloromethyl methylsulfide to give 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3'-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid 3-methylthiomethyl 5-(2'-cyanoethyl) ester 11a in 88.1% yield. The synthesis of 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3'-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicrboxylic acid 3-methylthiomethyl ester 2a was achieved in 83% yield by alkaline hydrolysis of compound 11a in aqueous EtOH.