Abstract Thieno [2, 3-b] pyridine (I) and thieno [3, 2-b] pyridine (II) were nitrated at C-3 in ca. 50% yield by means of nitric-sulfuric acids. Reduction of 3-nitro-I (Ia) with tin and hydrochloric acid gave 3-amino-I (Ib)(39%), which was converted to 3-acetylamino-I (Ic) and to dipyrido [2, 3-b: 2′, 3′-d] thiophene (V). Reduction of 3-nitro-II (IIa) with iron and acetic acid at 100 gave 3-acetyl-amino-II (IIb)(25%), while use of tin and hydrochloric acid at ...