It is known that the chemical reactivities of a-and y-alkylpyridines closely resemble those exhibited by alkyl ketoiies. It was of interest, therefore, to investigate the possibility that such alkylated pyridines could participate in the Willgerodt reaction. Further, the successful conversion of a-and y-alkylpyridines to thioamides would involve only oxidative steps; the absence of easily reducible functional groups precludes the occurrence of the Willgerodt ...