It is a derivative of pyridine with a carboxylic acid (COOH) substituent at the 2-position.

On a commercial scale, picolinic acid is produced by ammoxidation of 2-picoline followed by hydrolysis of the resulting nitrile: It is also produced by oxidation of picoline with nitric acid.

[2] In the laboratory, picolinic acid is formed from 2-methylpyridine by oxidation with potassium permanganate (KMnO4).

Picolinic acid is a bidentate chelating agent of elements such as chromium, zinc, manganese, copper, iron, and molybdenum in the human body.

[8] Its function is unclear, but it has been implicated in a variety of neuroprotective, immunological, and anti-proliferative effects.