The reaction of (2-chloropyridin-3-yl)(2-halophenyl)methanones, derived from 2-chloropyridine and 2-halobenzaldehydes, with two equivalents of benzenamines or arylmethanamines followed by treatment of the resulting (2-aryl(or arylmethyl)aminopyridin-2-yl)(2-halophenyl)methanones with sodium hydride in DMF at 0 degrees C to room temperature have proven to provide an efficient method for the preparation of 10-aryl(or arylmethyl)benzo[b][1,8]naphthyridin-5(10H)-ones. This methodology is shown to be applicable for the preparation benzo[b][1,7]naphthyridin-5(10H)-one derivatives by using 3-chloropyridine as a starting material in place of 2-chloropyridine.