A new synthesis is described of the alkaloid ricinine from 3-picoline-1-oxide uia the intermediates 4-nitro-3-picoline-l-oxide, 4-nitronicotinic acid-1-oxide, 4-methoxynicotinic acid-1-oxide, methyl 4-methoxynicotinate-l-oxide, 4-methoxynicotinamide-I-oxide and 2, 4- dichloronicotinonitrile. The preparation and reactions of a number of additional pyridine-1- oxide intermediates are discussed.
