REDUCTIONS WITH NADH MODELS .3. THE HIGH REACTIVITY OF HANTZSCH AMIDES

Aromatic ketones and aldehydes are rapidly reduced to alcohols by various 1,4-dihydropyridines, several of which can be considered to be a model of the coenzyme NADH. The reducing agents bear amide groups and are closely related to Hantzsch esters. They exhibit the highest reactivity among NADH models so far described. In some cases, the rate and completeness of reduction by Hantzsch amides compare favorably with those of reduction by the usually employed metal hydrides.