To provide a method for producing a pyridine derivative that is useful as an intermediate for medical supplies, agricultural chemicals, catalyst ligands, combinatorial chemistry, organic electroluminescent devices, charge-transfer bodies, electrophotographic photoreceptor, dyes in an industrial scale in no need of expensive catalyst or special facilities.

In this production method, a pyridinium salt derivative, for example, 1,3-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-2-oxopyridinium chloride is allowed to react with an acetyl compound, for example, 4-acetylpyridine and the reaction product is allowed to react with ammonia or ammonium salt.