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The synthesis of cationic amphiphilic 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative, potential gene delivery agent is achieved via an efficient multi-step sequence. The key step of this approach is a two-component Hantzsch type cyclisation of 3-oxo-2-[1-phenylmethylidene]-butyric acid dodecyl ester and 3-amino-but-2-enoic acid dodecyl ester utilising bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ether as a solvent and 1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium chloride as a catalyst. The 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative with long alkyl ester chains at positions 3 and 5 of the 1,4-DHP ring — 3,5-bis(dodecyloxycarbonyl)-2,6-dimethyl-4-phenyl-1,4-dihydropyridine was obtained in substantially higher yield with respect to classical Hantzsch synthesis. Bromination of this compound followed by nucleophilic substitution of bromine with pyridine gave the desired cationic amphiphilic 1,4-dihydropyridine.

The diastereotopy of the methylene protons at positions 2 and 6 in 1,4-dihydropiridine derivatives with various substituents has been investigated. NMR spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculations show that the CH···O intramolecular hydrogen bond is one of the factors amplifying the chemical shift differences in the 1H-NMR spectra.

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Since 2,6-dimethyl-4-aryl-1,4-dihydropyridine 3,5-diesters themselves are not hydrolyzed by commercially available hydrolases, derivatives with spacers containing a hydrolyzable group were prepared. Seven acyloxymethyl esters of 5-methyl- and 5-(2-propoxyethyl) 4-[2-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate were synthesized and subjected to Candida rugosa lipase (CRL) catalyzed hydrolysis in wet diisopropyl ether. A methyl ester at the 5-position and a long or branched acyl chain at C3 gave the highest enantiomeric ratio (E values). The most stereoselective reaction (E = 21) was obtained with 3-[(isobutyryloxy)methyl] 5-methyl 4-(2-difluoromethoxyphenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylate, and this compound was used to prepare both enantiomers of 3-methyl 5-(2-propoxyethyl) 4-[2-(difluoromethoxy)phenyl]-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate. The absolute configuration of the enzymatically produced carboxylic acid was established to be 4R by X-ray crystallographic analysis of its 1-(R)-phenylethyl amide.