A solution of 0.62 g (2.0 mmol) of 2-hydroxy-4-methyl-6-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-nicotinic acid methyl ester/4-methyl-2-oxo-6-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-1,2-dihydro-pyridine-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester in 20 ml of DMF was treated with 0.78 g (2.4 mmol) of cesium carbonate, followed by 0.62 ml=1.41 g (10.0 mmol) of iodomethane. This mixture was stirred for 70 hours at RT, then poured into crashed ice and extracted twice with CH2Cl2; the organic phases were washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and evaporated. The residue was purified by flash column chromatography (heptane/EtOAc 4:1 to 0:1) to give 0.21 g (33%) of the title compound as light yellow solid; [MS: 326.1 (MH+)] and 0.42 g (65%) of 2-methoxy-4-methyl-6-(3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-nicotinic acid methyl ester as light yellow oil. MS: 326.1 (MH+).
