3-(4 OR 3-Pyridinyl)-2-cyclohexen-1-ones (I) and their oxime derivatives are useful in preparing (3-aminophenyl)-pyridines, in turn, useful in preparing known antibacterial agents. Also shown is the preparation of I by starting with the reaction of methyl vinyl ketone with either 1-(pyridinyl)-1-(lower-tertiary-amino)-ethylene (II) or lower-alkyl 3-(pyridinyl)-3-oxopropanoate. Also shown is the process of converting I to its oxime, acylating the oxime and heating the acylated oxime under acidic conditions to produce N-(lower-acyl)-3-(pyridinyl)-aniline (VII), and hydrolyzing VII under aqueous alkaline conditions to produce the corresponding 3-(pyridinyl)aniline.