Editing Pyridine (section)

===Reactions on the nitrogen atom===
[[File:Pyridine-complex.svg|class=skin-invert-image|thumb|upright=1.5|Additions of various [[Lewis acid]]s to pyridine]]
[[Lewis acid]]s easily add to the nitrogen atom of pyridine, forming pyridinium salts. The reaction with [[alkyl halide]]s leads to [[alkylation]] of the nitrogen atom. This creates a positive charge in the ring that increases the reactivity of pyridine to both oxidation and reduction. The [[Zincke reaction]] is used for the selective introduction of radicals in pyridinium compounds (it has no relation to the chemical element [[zinc]]).