boron tribromide to give 3-(3-pyridyl)-3-thiolene-2-one, which only was stable in ether solution at −20°. The attempted demethylation of 2-methoxy-3-(2-pyridyl)thiophene with trimethylsilane chloride/sodium iodide in refluxing acetonitrile led to a dimer. Demethylation of the 2-methoxy-3-pyridylthiophenes with dibenzyl diselenide and sodium borohydride gave 3-pyridylthiophan-2-ones.