A novel synthesis of Hantzsch-type
N-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines from salicaldehydes, ethyl propiolate, andamines has been developed. Salicaldehydes were treated withethyl propiolate in the presence of
N-methylmorpholine togive ethyl 3-(2-formylphenoxy)propenoates. Three equivalents of ethyl 3-(2-formylphenoxy)propenoates reacted with1 equiv of amines under trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) catalystto furnish the corresponding
N-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines in good to excellent yields, recovering the startingmaterial salicaldehydes. A possible mechanism for thedomino process was proposed. Furthermore, the products canbe easily derived via further transformations and three ofthem exhibited strong fluorescence (
f = 0.36-0.63).