1-(3-Hydroxy-2-pyridyl)pyrrole (III) was prepared by Paal-Knorr condensation of 2-amino-3-hydroxypyridine (I) with 2,5-dimethoxytetrahydrofuran (II). The O-alkylation of (II) with ethyl alpha-bromophenylacetate (IV) in the presence of NaH in THF furnished ether (V). Subsequent saponification of the ethyl ester group of (IV) gave rise to carboxylic acid (VI), that was cyclized to tricyclic ketone (VII) upon treatment with phosphorus pentachloride. Finally, alkylation of the corresponding potassium enolate of (VII) with ethyl iodide yielded the title compound.