Abstract
Both C-4 stereoisomers of novel Hantzch-type 4-aryl- and 4-methyl-1, 4-dihydropyridines 3 having a p-tolylsulfinyl group at C-5 were efficiently synthesized in optically pure forms starting from the α-sulfinyl enones 6 which could be easily obtained from (-)-menthyl (S)-p-tolylsulfinate (4). The stereochemistry at C-4 was found to be largely responsible for the biological activities as calcium channel antagonists of these compounds.