The condensation of 3-pyridincarboxaldehyde (I) with diethyl malonate (II) by means of piperidine in refluxing benzene gives diethyl (3-pyridyl)methylenemalonate (III), which by reaction with dimethylamine (A) in ether is converted into diethyl alpha-dimethylamino-(3-pyridyl)methylmalonate (IV). The reduction of (IV) with LiAlH4 in THF affords 2-[alpha-dimethylamino-(3-pyridyl)methyl]-1,3-propanediol (V), which is finally cyclized with paraformaldehyde by means of boron trifluoride ethearate in acetonitrile. (1-3)