2,6-Dichloropyridine (I) was nitrated with HNO3 and H2SO4 to give nitropyridine (II). Substitution of the 2-chloro atom of (II) with cuprous cyanide at 180 C afforded nitrile (III). The remaining 6-chloro atom of (III) was then substituted with N-methyl-3,4-dimethoxyaniline (IV) in monoethyl glycol in the presence of pyridine to provide diaryl amine (V). The nitro group of (V) was further reduced with iron powder and HCl yielding the 3-amino derivative (VI). Finally, cyclization of (VI) with chloroformamidine hydrochloride (VII) in dimethylsulfone at 140 C produced the target pyridopyrimidine.