An efficient and cost-effective synthesis of 2-phenyl-3-aminopyridine

The synthesis of 2-phenyl-3-aminopyridine, a key intermediate in the preparation of 2-phenyl-3-aminopiperidine, from 2-chloro-3-aminopyridine is described using an imine as a protecting group for an aminopyridine, The in situ protection of 2-chloro-3-aminopyridine with benzaldehyde followed by Suzuki coupling with phenylboronic acid and subsequent acid hydrolysis provided the titled compound in a single, high-yielding step from inexpensive and commercially available starting materials.