Abstract Two routes were employed to synthesize unsubstituted furo [2, 3-b] pyridine (IV). The first method started with ethyl 5-aminofuro [2, 3-b] pyridine-2-carboxylate (1) and involved successive deamination, hydrolysis, and decarboxylation. The second method began with 5-nitrofuro [2, 3-b]-pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (V) and consisted of successive decarboxylation, reduction, and deamination reactions.