(or inamrinone; trade name Inocor) (CAS NO.: ), with its systematic name of (3,4'-Bipyridin)-6(1H)-one, 5-amino-, could be produced through many synthetic methods. This chemical is a pyridine phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor, and is often used in the treatment of congestive heart failure.

Following is one of the synthesis routes:

1). 2-(4-Pyridinyl)-3-dimethylaminoacrolein (I) is condensed with cyanacetamide (II) in the presence of sodium methoxide in refluxing methanol to afford 1,2-dihydro-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2-oxonicotinonitrile (III), which by hydrolysis with 90% H₂SO₄ at 100 C is converted into 1,2-dihydro-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2-oxonicotinamide (IV). Finally, this compound is submitted to a Hofmann degradation with Br₂ and NaOH in water.
2). Compound (III) can also be obtained by condensation of 2-(4-pyridinyl)-malonodialdehyde (V) with cyanacetamide (II) by means of morpholine and acetic acid in refluxing benzene.
3). The hydrolysis of (III) with refluxing 50% H₂SO₄ gives 1,2-dihydro-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2-oxonicotinic acid (VI), which by reaction with 90% HNO₃ in conc. H₂SO₄ at 80 C yields 3-nitro-5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone (VII). Finally, this compound is reduced with H₂ over Pd/C in DMF.4) The decarboxylative hydrolysis of (III) with refluxing 80% H₂SO₄ gives 5-(4-pyridinyl)-2(1H)-pyridinone (VIII), which can be nitrated with conc. HNO₃ in H₂SO₄ at 80 C to give also (VII).