Sodium borohydride (2.2 g, 59.1 mmol) was added to a suspension of 5-bromo-pyridine-3-carbaldehyde (10.0 g, 53.7 mmol) in MeOH (100 mL) at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at 0° C. for 1 hour before it was quenched by adding water (5.0 mL). Evaporation of solvents afforded a light yellowish oil, which was re-dissolved in EtOAc and washed with water. The organic layer was dried over anhy. Na2SO4, filtered and concentrated in vacuo to give 5-Bromo-3-pyridinemethanol (9.6 g, 95 per cent) as a colourless oil.
