Conformational Analysis of 3,4-Dihydropyridine and its Alkyl Derivatives

The geometry of dihydropyridine and its alkyl derivatives was studied by the molecular mechanics method. The dihydrocycle was found to be mobile; however, substituents exert little effect on its distorted sofa conformation. The alkyl groups attached to the saturated carbon atoms occupy pseudo-equatorial position in monosubstituted and pseudo-axial positions in disubstituted 3,4-dihydropyridines. Unusually high barriers to inversion of the dihydrocycle were observed incis-3,4-dialkyl-3,4-dihydropyridines caused by the eclipse of the substituents in the transition state