Pyridinium N-(2′-azinyl)aminides: regioselective synthesis of N-(2-pyridyl) substituted polyamines

The regioselective alkylation of pyridinium-N-(2′-pyridyl)aminide with alkyl dihalides under mild conditions, followed by N–N bond reduction of the corresponding bis-salts, allowed an easy preparation of N,N′-bis(2-pyridyl)diamines. The same methodology has been applied to the synthesis of N,N′,N″-tris(2-pyridyl)triamines.