3,4-Dihydropyridones of the formula ##SPC1##Wherein R.sup.1 is hydrogen, straight or branched chain alkyl, or --COOR' wherein R' is a straight, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon or said hydrocarbon interrupted by 1 or 2 oxygen atoms; R.sup.2 is a straight, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon, aryl unsubstituted or substituted by 1 to 3 of the same or different substitutents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, halogen, nitro, cyano, trifluoromethyl, carbalkoxy and SO.sub.n --alkyl wherein n is 0, 1 or 2, or naphthyl, quinolyl, isoquinolyl, pyridyl, pyrimidyl, thenyl, furyl or pyrryl unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy and halogen; and R.sup.3 is a straight or branched chain hydrocarbon or said hydrocarbon interrupted by 1 or 2 oxygen atoms, are produced by reacting an .alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated carboxylic acid ester of the formula ##EQU1## wherein R is alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, and R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are as above defined, with an amidine of the formula ##EQU2## wherein R.sup.3 is as above defined. These compounds are useful as coronary agents and as anti-hypertensive agents.