1773 mg (11.0 mmol) of 4-formyl-3-methoxybenzonitrile are dissolved with 1156 mg (11.0 mmol) of sodium 1-cyanoprop-1-en-2-olate, 1366 mg (11.0 mmol) of 4-amino-5-methylpyridin-2(1H)-one [Bisagni, E., Hung, N. C., Synthesis, 765-766 (1984)] and 945 μl (16.5 mmol) of acetic acid in 50 ml of 2-propanol and heated at the reflux temperature under argon for 20 h. After cooling, the reaction mixture is filtered and the precipitate is washed with 2-propanol and diethyl ether. The crude product is dissolved in 800 ml of dichloromethane/methanol by heating and, after addition of 500 ml of ethyl acetate, again concentrated to a volume of 50 ml. The precipitated product is filtered off and washed with ethyl acetate and diethyl ether. Drying under high vacuum results in 3.63 g (99% of theory) of the title compound in the form of yellowish crystals.
