Synthesis of 4-functionalized aryl-3,5-diacyl-1,4-dihydropyridines

The valuable N-unsubstituted 4-aryl-3,5-diacyl-1,4-dihydropyridines , bearing an electron-withdrawing substituent at the benzene ring, have been synthesized by the copper-mediated addition of functionalized arylmagnesium reagents to N-benzhydrylpyridinium salt , followed by acylation with trichloroacetic anhydride and the subsequent haloform reaction and N-deprotection.