O-Alkylations of pyridoxine 1 and pyridoxamine 5 were carried out in acetone in the presence of sodium ethoxide and potassium iodide to give 5-alkoxy-6-methyl-3,4-(bishydroxymethyl)pyridines 2a-j and 5-alkoxy-4-aminomethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxymethylpyridine