Compound 2-chloro-4-(methoxymethyl)-6-methyl-5-nitropyridine-3-carbonitrile (2) has been obtained from 4-(methoxymethyl)-6-methyl-5-nitro-2-oxo-1, 2-dihydropyridine-3-carbonitrile (1) by novel protocol using Vilsmeier–Haack chlorination and its solid state structure was analyzed using X-ray analysis. Structural features have been also studied by IR, NMR and electronic spectroscopy, and the optical properties were investigated by UV–vis ...