Preparation of the title compound (2) by use of Stille couplings and a Kröhnke pyridine synthesis is described. By application of the Stille coupling reaction, preparation and functionalization of quater-and quinquepyridines 26, 27, and 28 were achieved. Elaboration of quinquepyridine 27 to the pyridinium salt 30 bearing a protected enal allowed for the synthesis of 2 by a one-pot deprotection/Kröhnke reaction in nine steps from 4, 4'- ...