Electrochemical oxidation of 4-monoalkyl-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines

The electrochemical oxidation of 4-monoalkyl-substituted 1,4-dihydropyridines has been studied in an aprotic medium and in the presence of pyridine. In an aprotic medium the products of oxidation are both 4-alkyl-substituted and 4-unsubstituted pyridines or mixtures of them. On oxidation in acetonitrile of 4-Et-, 4-n-Pr-, and 4-i-Bu-substituted dihydropyridines, 2-methylene-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyridines were obtained in addition to the oxidized forms. In the presence of base the products of preparative electrolysis of the studied compounds were 4-alkyl-substituted pyridines. The exception was the 4-i-Pr- substituted dihydropyridine which was dealkylated on oxidation even in the presence of base.