A simple and highly efficient (concise 3-step) synthesis of 2chloro-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile has been developed from readily available starting materials. Furthermore, the selective reactivity of this tetra-substituted pyridine with different carbon, sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen nucleophiles offers great scope for the synthesis of novel highly substituted pyridine derivatives in decent to good yields.

A synthesis of 6-chloro-5-(trifluoroacetyl)pyridine-3-carbonitrile, a versatile building block for the synthesis of trifluoromethylated N-heterocycles, is described. The reactions of 6-chloro-5-(trifluoroacetyl)pyridine-3-carbonitrile with 1,2- and 1,3-bisnucleophiles were investigated.

Trifluoromethyl containing heterocycles are an integral part of many biologically active compounds in the agro and pharmaceutical chemistry. Herein, we report an efficient and concise three-step synthesis of 5-halo-6-trifluoromethylpyridine-3-carbonitriles from a trifluoroacetyl vinylogous enamine starting material. Hydrolysis furnishes the carboxylic acids.