Novel antihypertensive and coronary dilating asymmetric diesters of 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethylpyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid (or the stereoisomers or pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof) have the general formula (I): ##STR1## wherein Ph is phenyl, Ar is 2-nitrophenyl, 3-nitrophenyl, 2,3-dichlorophenyl or benzofurazan-4-yl, A is a straight or branched chain alkylene radical having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R is a straight or branched chain alkyl radical having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, optionally mono-substituted by an alkoxy substituent having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, R.sub.1 is hydrogen, hydroxy or an alkyl radical having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and R.sub.2 is hydrogen or methyl. The subject diesters are facilely prepared from the aldehydes ArCHO and esters of acetoacetic and 3-aminocrotonic acids.