Abstract The synthesis is described of nor-vitamin B 6 (nor-pyridoxol) by a selective demethylation of a suitable vitamin B 6 precursor. The demethylation is accomplished in a three step process following the sequence CH 3 [RIGHTWARDS ARROW] CHO [RIGHTWARDS ARROW] COOH [RIGHTWARDS ARROW] H, in which SeO 2 appears to be a particularly selective oxidant for the first step. The nor-vitamin B 6 proves to be ...