New fluorinated 3,6-dihydropyridines were obtained by the electrophilic fluorination of 1,2-dihydropyridines with Selectfluor®. These 3-fluoro-3,6-dihydropyridines were easily converted to corresponding pyridines by the elimination of hydrogen fluoride under mild conditions. A new approach to the synthesis of methyl 2-(fluoromethyl)-5-nitro-6-arylnicotinates by the fluorination of 3-fluoro-2-methyl-5-nitro-3,6-dihydropyridines or 1,2-dihydropyridines with Selectfluor® has been developed.
Keywords: Selectfluor®; dihydropyridines; electrophilic fluorination; fluorine-containing heterocycles; homoallyl long-range coupling.