Synthesis of fusaric acid and its analogs

Summary 1. A new method for synthesizing fusaric acid and its analogs has been proposed which starts from 2-methyl-5-ethynylpyridine; this is alkylated and the hydrogenated 2-methyl-5-alkynylpyridines are oxidized to the corresponding 5-alkylpicolinic acids.2. The mass-spectroscopic behavior of the 2-methyl-5-alkylpyridines has been studied.Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 134–137, 1967