2,3-Dichloropyridines undergo a mono- or a dicarbonylation in the presence of carbon monoxide, an alcohol and a palladium catalyst, affording selectively either alkyl 3-chloropicolinates, or dialkyl pyridine-2,3-dicarboxylates in good yields, depending on the reaction conditions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.