Abstract This paper describes the synthesis and chemical properties of some 2-and 3- substituted furo [2, 3-b] pyridines. Reaction of ethyl 2-chloronicotinate 1 with sodium ethoxycarbonylmethoxide or 1-ethoxycarbonyl-1-ethoxide gave β-keto ester 2 or ketone 5, respectively. Ketonic hydrolysis of 2 afforded ketone 3, from which furo [2, 3-b] pyridine 4 was obtained by the method of Sliwa. While, 2-methyl derivative 7 was prepared from 5 by ...