A series of 4-[2-methyl (or aryl) thiazole-4-yl]-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-diacetyl (or dibenzoyl) 1,4-dihydropyridines were synthesized using a modified Hantzsch reaction involving the condensation of the corresponding aldehyde with acetyl acetone or benzoyl acetone. The preparation of the corresponding aldehydes (2-methylthiazole-4-carboxaldehyde and some 2-arylthiazole-4-carboxaldehydes) was achieved by