The parent compound is uncommon,[2] but derivatives of 1,4-dihydropyridine are important commercially and biologically.

1,4-Dihydropyridine-based drugs are L-type calcium channel blockers, used in the treatment of hypertension.

[citation needed] The dominant reaction of dihydropyridines is their ease of oxidation.

In the case of dihydropyridines with hydrogen as the substituent on nitrogen, oxidation yields pyridines: The naturally-occurring dihydropyridines NADH and NADPH contain N-alkyl groups.

Therefore, their oxidation does not yield pyridine, but N-alkylpyridinium cations: Hantzsch ester[5]