A series of variously substituted 5-carboxy-6-methyl-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-pyridone derivatives were synthesized and their oxidation potentials determined by cyclic voltammetry. The resulting 2-pyridone structure and a tricyclic heterocycle which was formed during an attempted synthesis of 4-(2-hydroxyphenyl) substituted 3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-pyridone were confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallography. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.