AbstractCondensation of β‐aminocinnamic acid esters with 3‐chloro‐2‐methoxy‐crotonaldehyde opened an easy access to 2‐phenyl‐5‐methoxy‐4‐methylnicotinic acid esters which were cyclized by polyphosphoric acid to yield the corresponding 2‐methoxyonychines. By this method a number of 2‐methoxy‐substituted onychines were prepared for the first time, i.a. oxylopidine, the structure