The oxidative methylation of alpha-, beta- and gamma-picolines with methane to the corresponding vinyl- and ethylpyridines was carried out at 750-degrees-C and under normal atmospheric pressure, over sodium, cesium or sodium-cesium promoted magnesia catalysts. Among the three picolines, the gamma-picoline was the most reactive, followed by alpha- and beta-picolines. The (5 mol% Na-5 mol% Cs)/MgO catalyst provided higher yields than the individual promoters, at the same total alkali content of 10 mol%.