A group of 1-malonyl-1, 4-dihydropyridine derivatives were synthesized as novel carrier systems for site-specific and sustained drug delivery to the brain. Such carriers are expected to be stable against air oxidation due to the presence of the carbonyl group close to nitrogen of the dihydropyridine. These carrier systems were attached to a group of different aldehydes to afford novel quaternary pyridinium derivatives 9a–e, 11a–d, 13 and 18a–b. ...