Step by step palladium mediated syntheses of new 2-(pyridin-2-yl)-6-R-nicotinic acids and esters

C(3) functionalization of 6-alkyl-substituted-2,2′-bipyridines was achieved through “rollover cyclopalladation” followed by carbonylation. The reaction produced novel and rare 2-(2-pyridin-2-yl)-6-alkyl-nicotinic acids or esters which contain the core of the nicotinic acid and therefore are of biological and pharmaceutical interest.