Synthesis of bisfunctionalized-oligopyridines bearing an ester group

The synthesis of 2,2 ' -bipyridine, 1,10-phenantroline and 2,2 ' :6 ' ,2 " -terpyridine substituted by an ethylester function is described. The 5- and 6-methyl-2,2 ' -bipyridines bearing an ethylester group on the 6 ' positio n as well as the ethyl 6,6 " -dimethyl-2,2 ' :6 ' ,2 " -terpyridine-4 ' -ca rboxylate moiety were synthesized via a Stille cross-coupling reaction, sta rting from bromo-picoline building blocks. A radical bromination of the met hyl-oligopyridine gave selectively the corresponding benzylic bromide deriv atives in fair yield. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.