A novel strategy for the synthesis of 2,6-diaryl-1,2-dihydropyridines via 6π-electrocyclization

Enaminonitriles with α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in a BF3·OEt2 catalyzed reaction gave stable 1-azatrienes, which could be readily transformed to 1,2-dihydropyridines via 1,6-electrocyclizations.