The cyclization of 1-ethyl-2-aminopyrazole (I) with diethyl acetylmalonate (II) by means of polyphosphoric acid at 120 C gives ethyl 1-ethyl-6-methyl-4-hydroxy-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxylate (III), which by reaction with refluxing POCl3 is converted into ethyl 1-ethyl-4-chloro-6-methyl-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-5-carboxylate (IV). Finally this compound is treated with butylamine (V) in benzene.