catalytic sodium wolframate led to the formation of 6-alkylsulfonylpyridine derivatives 5, which could be further derivatized in the 6-position by nucleophilic reactions with phenols or amines to give multisubstitutedpyridine compounds 8. Bioassays indicated that some of the compounds of the type 8 have good herbicidalactivity at a dose of 100 mg/L on the roots of oil rape and barnyard grass. J. Heterocyclic