Reduction of N-methyl-2-pyridone-4-carboxylic acid (I) with LiBH4 provided alcohol (II), which was further oxidized to aldehyde (III) with MnO2. Wittig reaction of (III) with trimethoxybenzylphosphonium salt (IV) in the presence of NaOMe provided a mixture of E and Z olefins, from which the target Z isomer was isolated by column chromatography.

Title compound was prepared by Wittig reaction of 2-methoxypyridine-5-carboxaldehyde (I) with trimethoxybenzylphosphonium salt (II) in the presence of NaOMe, followed by chromatographic separation of the mixture of E and Z isomers.