Novel 3-unsubstituted 4,7-dihydrothieno[2,3-b]pyridines were prepared by heterocyclization of methyl acetoacetate, an aromatic aldehyde and Meldrum's acid in the presence of ammonium acetate in glacial acetic acid, followed by treatment of formed intermediates -pyridones with Wilsmeier-Haack reagent and with ethyl mercaptoacetate in the presence of sodium ethoxide in dry ethanol.