The treatment of alpha-alkoxycarbonyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated trifluoro
methyl ketones 1 with beta-aminocrotonates 2 affords 2-methyl-6-triflu
oromethyl-1,4-dihydropyridines 3, which undergo dehydrofluorination us
ing DBU/piperazine, giving moderate to high yields of 2-difluoromethyl
-6-methylpyridines 4.