IN WHICH R AND R2 ARE SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HYDROGEN, -NR2, SILYL, SILYL LINKED VIA OXYGEN, SILYL LINKED VIA NITROGEN, SULFAMYL, ORGANOSULFONAMIDO, NITRO ORGANIC RADICAL, ORGANIC RADICAL LINKED VIA OXYGEN, ORGANIC RADICAL LINKED VIA SULFUR, ORGANIC RAIDCAL LINKED VIA NITROGEN, ORGANIC RADICAL LINKED VIA -SO-AND ORGANIC RADICCAL LINKED VIA -SO2-; WITH THE PROVISO THAT THE R2 GROUP INGS WHEN JOINED TOGETHER FORM AN ORTHO CONDENSED SYCLIC OR POLYCYCLIC HYDROCARBON; R1 IS A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HYDROGEN, -NH2, SILYL, SILYL LINKED VIA OXYGEN, SILYL LINKED VIA NITROGEN, SULFAMYL, ORGANOSULFONAMIDO, NITRO, ORGANIC RADICAL, ORGANIC RADICAL LINKED VIA OXYGEN ORGANIC RADICAL LINKED VIA SULFUR, ORGANIC RADICAL LINKED VIA NITROGEN, ORGANIC RADICAL LINKED VIA-SO-ORGANIC RADICAL LINKED VIA -SO1- MERCAPTO. SULFINO AND SULFO; R3 IS A MEMBER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HYDROGEN, HALOGEN AND METHYL; AND Z IS A MEMBER SELELCTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF HALOGEN AND AN ELECTRON WITHDRAWING GROUP CONTAINING AN ELECTROONEGATIVE ATOM DOUBLY OR TRIPLY BONDED TO A MORE POSITIVE ATOM WHICH ATOM IS SINGLY BONDED TO THE CARBON ATOM ATTACHED TO THE PYRIDINE RING, EXEMPLARY OF SUCH COMPOSITIONS IS 1,4-BIS (TRIMETHYLSILY)-2-(1-CYANOETHYL)-1,2-DIHYDROPYRIDINE. THE COMPOUNDS OF THE INVENTION ARE USEFUL AS ANTIOXIDANTS FOR POLYPHENYL ETHERS, AS STABILIZERS FOR HALOGEN ATED POLYHYDROCARBONS, AS CURING AGENTS FOR SILICONES AND EXPOXIDE RESINS, AS DYEING IMPROVERS FOR POLYESTERS AND AS FUEL ADDITIVES FOR IMPARTING HYPERGOLIC PROPERTIES.