Patent ID: 6861531

Claim:
A process for synthesizing a compound of the formula wherein R comprises an alkyl or aryl group, said process comprising: treating a 2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic dihalide in solution in a hydrocarbon medium with a bis(2-alkoxyalkyl) amine and a trialkyl amine, whereby a reaction mixture containing a 2,6-pyridine dicarboxamide in said hydrocarbon medium is produced; treating said 2,6-pyridine dicarboxamide in solution in said hydrocarbon medium with a compound of formula RM, wherein R comprises a C 1 to C 6 alkyl group or a C 6 to C 10 substituted or unsubstituted aryl group and M comprises an alkali metal, whereby a first reaction mixture is produced; treating said first reaction mixture with a trialkylsilyl halide, whereby a second reaction mixture is produced; treating said second reaction mixture with water, whereby a biphasic solution having an organic upper layer and an aqueous lower layer is produced; and wherein said organic upper layer comprises a solution of a 2,6-dicarbonylpyridine.