FIELD: medicine. SUBSTANCE: described is method of preparing 2-aryloxy-4-chloropyridine derivatives of formula I: 
wherein R1 is C1-C4 alkyl; R2 is methyl or ethyl; R3, R4 and R5 are C1-C4 alkyl or (C1-C4 alkoxy or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof by reacting compound of formula II 
with phenol of formula III: 
wherein R1-R5 are as defined above, in the presence of base capable to deprotonate compound of formula III, and in the presence of metallic halide and pyridine followed by conversion optionally of the resulting compound into pharmaceutically acceptable salt. Compound of formula I are useful as intermediate compound to prepare 2- phenoxypyridine derivatives which are antagonists of corticotropin releasing factor and are used for treating various diseases, e.g. inflammatory diseases. EFFECT: more efficient preparation method. 6 cl, 1 ex
