Abstract A series of calcineurin inhibiting compounds 1 consisting of a central aromatic N- heterocycle, two aryl substituents and a 3-dimethylaminopropyl chain was synthesized by introduction of the side chain. A corresponding haloheterocycle 3 was transformed into a 3- dimethylaminopropynylheterocycle 2 by Sonogashira coupling and was in turn hydrogenated in the presence of Pd/C to afford the 3-dimethylaminopropyl-sub-stiuted ...