Enantiomerically pure 1,4-dihydropyridines are prepared taking
advantage of magnesium nitride as a useful and convenient source
of ‘solid ammonia’. The products possess various substituents
at carbons 3, 4 and 5 of the dihydropyridine moiety.
1,4-dihydropyridines - magnesium nitride - multicomponent
reaction - Hantzsch esters - one-pot condensation