(Pyridonyl-1)propargyl malonate 7 was prepared through two consecutive alkylations of pyridone 2 with ethyl bromomalonate and propargyl bromide in one pot in nearly quantitative yields. Malonate 7 was hydrolyzed to give racemic acid (±)-1, which was then resolved with (−)-norephedrine to give (S)-1. The recovered acid, which was enriched with undesired (R)-1, was activated with CDI, and a complete