(5-Acetyl-4-aryl-3-cyano-6-methylpyridin-2-ylthio)acethydrazides (4a,b), 5-acetyl-3-amino-4-aryl-6-methylthieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carbohydrazides (5a,b) and 5-acetyl-3-amino-6-methyl-4-phenylthieno[2,3-b]pyridine-2-carboxylic acid (13) were synthesised and used as key intermediates in the synthesis of the target compounds.