A series of 2-amino-5-substituted pyridine derivatives was synthesized and their molluscicidal activity against white garden, Theba pisana (Muller), and brown garden, Helix aspersa (Muller), snails was investigated by two methods of application. Some of these compounds showed strong activity under laboratory conditions against the two types of snail. T pisana was more sensitive to the tested compounds than H aspersa. The most effective compounds were 2-amino-5-(benzotriazole-1-ylmethyl)-3-methylpyridine, 2-amino-5-[1-(benzotriazole-1-yl)nonyl]-3-methylpyridine and 2-[(1,2,4-triazole-1-ylmethyl) amino]-3-methylpyridine which exhibited high molluscicidal activity. The toxicity results are discussed in relation to the chemical structures. (C) 1999 Society of Chemical Industry.