Biomedical Applications And Oxidative Aromatization Of Hantzsch 1,4-Dihydropyridines: A Review

Abstract

The study of dihydropyridines began early in 1882, when Hantzsch disclosed the first synthesis of these
compounds. Major landmarks were the isolation of NADH (reduced nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide, Fig. 1) and its role as a reductive cofactor, and the breakthrough of Hantzsch
dihydropyridines as antihypertensive drugs. Afterwards, research also focused on NADH mimics and
on the synthetic aspects of these heterocyclic systems, especially with regard to natural products and
bioactive agents.1,2