Hydrolysis of I gave 3-carboxy-6-methyl-2 (1)-pyridone (IV). In view of the SUCC~ SS~~~~ of the conversion of heterocyclic esters to alcohols with lithium aluminum hydride, IV was converted into V by using diazomethane, but the reduction of V to VI1 was not successful. It was later found that it was possible to reduce IV directly to VII.
[Beak, Peter; Covington, Johnny B.; Smith, Stanley G.; White, J. Matthew; Zeigler, John M. Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1980 , vol. 45, # 8 p. 1354 - 1362]
