THE SYNTHESIS OF A REACTIVE PYRIDINE INTERMEDIATE FOR FUEL INSTABILITY STUDIES

Pyridine compounds have been found in significant concentration in middle distillate fuels. These compounds have been implicated in fuel instability reactions and could also be involved in color body formation. Few pyridine compounds are commercially available and those that are available are relatively simple in structure. We report the synthesis of a reactive pyridine intermediate, l-carbethoxy-2-cyano-1,2-dihydropyridine, that could be used for a wide range of further pyridine compound synthesis including pyridines, and many other alkyl derivatives. This particular compound has been reported, but in very low yield. This reported improved synthetic procedure give yields in excess of 90%.