2-Formamidopyridine in POCl3 solution reacts with N,N-dimethylaniline to gi
ve tris (4-dimethylaminophenyl)methane in 80% yield but with 4-X-N,N-dimeth
ylanilines it gives 2-dimethylamino-5-X-phenyl[2-(N-methyl)formamido-5-X-ph
enyl](2-pyridylamino)methanes.