An Improved Procedure for the Large Scale Preparation of 5-Bromo-2-Hydroxynicotinic Acid [5-Bromo-3-Carboxy-2(1H)-Pyridone]

Bromination of 2-hydroxynicotinic acid is conveniently carried out on a large scale using sodium hypobromite generated from sodium bromide and commercial bleach solution. This procedure safely provides high yields of pure 5-bromo-2-hydroxynicotinic acid [5-bromo-3-carboxy-2(1H)-pyridone], without use of hazardous elemental bromine.