Soluble 4-tert-butylphenyl substituted derivatives of 2,2':6',2''-terp
yridine, 2,2':6',2'':6'',2'''-quaterpyridine, 2,2':6',2'':6'',2''':6''
',2''''-quinquepyridine and ,2'':6'',2''':6''',2'''':6'''',2'''''-sexi
pyridine have been prepared. The ligands and their metal complexes are
more soluble than unsubstituted analogues, but the introduction of th
e bulky substituent does not perturb any metal centred processes.