Abstract A modified approach to a carbon-14-labeled pyridine ring system was developed based on the electrocyclic ring-closure of 1, 4, 4-trisubstituted butadiene. The new method was applied to prepare 2-(3, 4-difluorophenoxy)-5-fluoro-[2-14 C] nicotinic acid and other halogen-substituted analogs. The targeted compound was isolated with a radiochemical purity of> 98% and a specific activity of 53 mCi/mmol from four radiochemical steps, ...