Mechanism and products of electrochemical reduction of 4-nitrophenyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dicyano-1,4-dihydropyridines in dimethylformamide

Free anion radicals of the nitrobenzene and nitrosobenzene type, which were identified by EPR spectroscopy, are formed in the electrochemical reduction of isomeric 4-(nitrophenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dicyano-1,4-dihydropyridines on mercury and solid electrodes. Reduction of the dihydropyridine ring is observed only for N-substituted p- and m-nitrophenyl derivatives of 1,4-dihydropyridine. An intermediate with a 2-pyridonemethide structure was identified; a set of primary and secondary chemical reactions that are associated with the electrolytic reduction of the investigated compounds is presented.