alpha-Aryl ketones react with vinamidinium hexafluorophosphate salts to give access to the corresponding 3-arylpyridines. The annulation reactions proceed in good to excellent yields with vinamidinium salts containing electron-withdrawing groups at the beta-position (R(2)). The reaction was applied to the preparation of the COX-2 specific inhibitor 5-chloro-3-(4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl-2-(2-methyl-5-pyridinyl)pyridine (1), as well as a series of analogues.