In pursuit of this goal, the synthesis of compounds la-c were attempted. Condensation of 3- benzo [/; Jlhienylacctonitri!(II) with 4-pyridinecarboxaldehyde (III) in the presence of sodium melhoxide would be expected to give the desired compound la. Although a similar reaction was previously reported to be quite successful (2); in this case the compound IV was obtained in 60% yield and only a very small amount of the desired compound la was ...