Synthesis of 7-ethyl-4,7-dihydro-4-oxo-2-(4-pyridinyl)thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid

7-Ethyl-4,7-dihydro-4-oxo-2-(4-pyridinyl)thieno[2,3-b]pyridine-5-carboxylic acid ( 4 ), an analog of nalidixic acid, was synthesized in seven steps starting from commercially available 4-methylpyridine. Bacterial susceptibility to compound 4 was tested and the title compound was found to exhibit only weak antibacterial activity against a variety of pathogens including S. Aureus, E. Coli and P. Aeruginosa.