102 mg (0.4 mmol) of 2-amino-6-chloro-4-phenyl-3,5-pyridinedicarbonitrile [Quintela et al., Heterocycles 38, 1299-1305 (1994)] and 54 mg (0.48 mmol) of potassium tert-butoxide are dissolved together in 1.696 g (=1.5 ml, 15.55 mmol) of 3-hydroxymethylpyridine, and the mixture is stirred at 60° C. for about 16 h. The resulting suspension is acidified with two drops of glacial acetic acid. The product which crystallizes out is filtered off with suction, washed with water and dried under reduced pressure.
