I1 was diethyl 5-cyano-6-methyl-2, 3-pyridinedi-carboxylate. 2 This was treated with concentrated sulfuric acid to convert the cyano group to carbamyl. Reaction of the carbamyl compound with alkaline hypochlorite gave 5-amino-6-methyl-2, 3-pyridinedicarboxylic acid. The latter was esterified with alcohol and hydrogen chloride, and the resulting ester was reduced with lithium aluminum hydride to form I. Compound I1 was obtained by treatment ...