The reaction of 2-bromo-4,5-diethoxybenzaldehyde dimethylacetal (I) with 2-chloropyridine-4-carbaldehyde (II) by means of BuLi in THF gives the diarylcarbinol (III), which is cyclized with dimethyl fumarate (IV) by means of AcOH in refluxing toluene (or xylene) yielding the naphthalene-2,3-dicabroxylic ester (V). The reduction of (V) with NaBH4 in THF/methanol affords the bis(hydroxymethyl)naphthalene (VI), which is treated with hydrazine in refluxing water to give the 2-pyridylhydrazine derivative (VII). Finally, this compound is cyclized with 2-(3-pyridylcarbonyl)benzoic acid (VIII) by heating at 150 C in ethylene glycol.