Tandem oxidation processes for the regioselective preparation of 5-substituted and 6-substituted 1,2,4-triazines

α-Hydroxyketones undergo MnO2-mediated oxidation, followed by in situ trapping with 2-pyridylamidrazone, to give 3-pyridyl-5-substituted 1,2,4-triazines in a one-pot procedure, which avoids the need to isolate the reactive α-ketoaldehyde intermediates. By modifying this procedure to allow condensation prior to oxidation, the corresponding 6-substituted 1,2,4-triazines were obtained. The preparation of a novel unsymmetrical 2,2′-bipyridine using one of the pyridyl 1,2,4-triazines prepared herein is also described.