The mechanism for the oxidation of Hantzsch 1, 4-dihydropyridine (HEH) by substituted ethyl α-cyanocinnamates (1) and benzylidenemalononitriles (2) has been critically investigated. Replacement of HEH by HEH-4, 4-d2 and HEH-Nd gave the observed kinetic isotope effects (KIE) of 5.3–6.0 and 1.2–1.3 for the reactions with 1 and 2, respectively, which suggests C4– H bond dissociation is involved in the rate-limiting step and that the N–H bond ...