Synthesis of 3,5-dicyano-4-phenyl-2,6-bis(4-p-terphenylyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine. An attempt at extending the Hantzsch synthesis
The 3-oxopropanenitrile IIIc, prepared from 4-acetyl-p-terphenyl (IV) by the sequence IV → V → VI → IIIc, reacts with benzaldehyde and ammonium acetate in acetic acid to give the Hantzsch 1,4-dihydropyridine VIIc and the corresponding pyridine derivative VIIIc. The alternative cyclocondensation of benzylidene derivative IIc and 3-oxopropanenitrile IIIc in the presence of ammonium acetate exclusively gives the pyridine derivative VIIIc. Rate of thermal and oxidative aromatizations of the 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives, VIIa → VIIc → VIIIa → VIIIc, decreases in the order VIIc > VIIb > VIIa. Mechanism of these transformations and spectral characteristics of compounds VIIc and VIIIc are discussed with regard to their molecular structure.