Synthesis of 2,6-divinylpyridine (2,6-DVP) and 2-methyl-6-vinylpyridine (2M6VP) was achieved for the first time by side-chain alkylation of 2,6-lutidine using formaldehyde (37 wt/v) as alkylating agent in heterogeneous conditions at atmospheric pressure, and at a reaction temperature of 300 °C over alkali and alkaline metal ion modified zeolites. A mixture of 2,6-divinylpyridine and 2-methyl,6-vinylpyridine were formed by the alkylation of the 2,6-lutidine over Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba metal ion modified zeolites. The catalytic activity of 2,6-lutidine was studied over various potassium metal ion modified zeolite molecular sieves like ZSM-5 (30), X, Y, mordenite and MCM-41. Alkali modified ZSM-5 (30) catalyst was found more active in side-chain alkylation of 2,6-lutidine when compared to other zeolites. Among all these catalysts studied K modified ZSM-5 (30) gave best conversion of 2,6-lutidine and selectivity to 2-methyl,6-vinylpyridine. K-ZSM-5 (30) catalyst was employed to study the reaction parameters like reaction temperature, weight hourly space velocity, molar ratio, and time on stream for 2,6-lutidine. The effect of potassium metal ion content and precursors of potassium ion on catalytic activity in side-chain alkylation of 2,6-lutidine was studied. The bifunctional catalyst is required containing medium or weak acidic centers and basic centers in the side-chain alkylation, which is understood through proposed mechanism. The selectivities of 2,6-DVP were 45.2, 40.0, and 30.7% at 73.4, 66.0 and 60.5% conversion at 300 °C from 2,6-lutidine and formaldehyde over K-ZSM-5 (30), Rb-ZSM-5 (30) and Cs-K-ZSM-5 (30), respectively.