2(1H)-PYRIDINONER OCH DERAS FRAMSTAELLNING

Novel 1-R1-3-Q-5-(3-R min -4-R sec -phenyl)-6-R-2(1H)-pyridinones where R1 is hydrogen, lower-alkyl or lower-hydroxyalkyl, R is lower-alkyl and, R min and R sec are each hydrogen, amino or hydroxy, at least one of R min or R sec being other than hydrogen, or R is nitro and R sec is hydroxy, are useful as cardiotonics. Also known compounds where R is hydrogen are useful as cardiotonics. Both novel and known compounds can be prepared by a novel process which comprises reacting 1-R1-1,2-dihydro-2-oxo-5-(3-R min -4-R sec -phenyl)-6-R-nicotinonitrile, where R1 and R are defined as above, R min is hydrogen, hydroxy, methoxy or amino and R sec is hydrogen, hydroxy, amino or methoxy, at least one of R min and R sec being other than hydrogen, or R min is nitro and R sec is hydroxy with 85% phosphoric acid.