Diels-Alder (DA) reactions of 3- or 5-nitro-2(1H)-pyridones and nitro-2(1H)-pyridones containing a methoxycarbonyl group with 2,3-dimethyl-1,3-butadiene were examined. The DA reactions of 3-nitro-2(1H)-pyridones in this paper represent, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of DA reactions of 3-substituted 2(1H)-pyridones and consequent production of isoquinolones. Performing the same reactions