Abstract Ethyl 5-substituted-4-oxo-1, 4-dihydro-3-pyridinecarboxylates were synthetized by reacting 1, 3, 5-triazine with 4-substituted ethyl acetoacetate derivatives in ethanol, in the presence of sodium ethoxide. The l-alkyl-5-substituted-4-oxo-1, 4-dihydro-3- pyridinecarboxylic acids required for the antimicrobial studies were prepared by N-alkylation (with triethyl phosphate or alkyl halides) and alkaline hydrolysis of the pyridone esters.