| abstract |
2-Chloropyridines represented by general formulae (II), (III) and/or (IV), which are intermediates in the production of drugs and pesticides, can be efficiently and easily produced by treating methyl-2-sulfonylpyridines represented by general formula (I) with chlorinating agents under such conditions as to allow the formation of free radicals wherein R1 represents lower alkyl, cycloalkyl, optionally substituted aryl or aralkyl. Further the starting materials (I) can be efficiently produced in a good yield at a low cost by reacting sulfonyl cyanide with a methyl-substituted 1-acyloxy-1,3-butadiene. |