This compound can be obtained by three different ways: 1) The reaction of 3-nitrobenzaldehyde (I) with methyl acetoacetate (II) by means of m-toluidine in methanol gives methyl 2-(3-nitrobenzylidene)acetoacetate (III), which is then cyclized with 3-aminocrotonic acid 3-phenyl-2(E)-propenyl ester (IV) in refluxing isopropanol. 2) By cyclization of methyl 3-aminocrotonate (V) with aldehyde (I) and acetoacetic acid 3-phenyl-2(E)-propenyl ester (VI) in refluxing isopropanol. 3) By esterification of 2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid monomethyl ester (VII) with 3-phenyl-2(E)-propenyl alcohol (VIII), by means of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC) in pyridine.