4-Bromobenzyl alcohol → 2-(4-Bromobenzyloxy)-5-nitropyridine

The substituted amino-pyridine compounds of formula (I) wherein W is oxygen can be prepared by the reaction of a hydroxy-nitropyridine with a substituted phenalkyl halide to obtain the corresponding substituted nitro-pyridine which is reduced to the desired substituted amino-pyridine of formula (I). For example, the reaction of 5-hydroxy-2-nitropyridine and 4-chlorobenzyl bromide gives 5-(4-chlorobenzyloxy)-2-nitropyridine which is then reduced to 2-amino-5-(4-chlorobenzyloxy)pyridine of formula I. Alternatively, the compounds of formula I can be prepared by the reaction of a halo-nitropyridine with a substituted phenalkyl alcohol or substituted phenalkyl thiol followed by reduction of the nitro group. For example, the reaction of 2-chloro-5-nitropyridine and 4-bromobenzyl alcohol gives 2-(4-bromobenzyloxy)-5-nitropyridine which is then reduced using, for example, iron powder to give 5-amino-2-(4-bromobenzyloxy)pyridine of formula (I).