2-(1-Methoxycarbonyl-2-phenyleth-1-yl)-1-benzylpyridin-1-ium Bromide

In this work, we report the unexpected conversion of a pyridine derivative into the corresponding N-benzylated pyridinium salt due to the presence of unreacted benzyl bromide in the crude product. This transformation was observed at room temperature in a solvent-free environment and without any stirring. These interesting data show how pyridinium salts can be formed in mild conditions, avoiding high temperatures that could promote the degradation of the desired product.