Clevidipine is prepared by esterification of 4-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-2,6-dimethyl-1,4-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicarboxylic acid monomethyl ester (I) with chloromethyl butyrate (II) by means of NaHCO3 in DMF at 80 oC (1) or refluxing acetonitrile (2).