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′ position as well as the ethyl 6,6′′-dimethyl-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine-4′-carboxylate moiety were synthesized via a Stille cross-coupling reaction, starting from bromo-picoline building blocks. A radical bromination of the methyl-oligopyridine gave selectively the corresponding benzylic bromide derivatives in fair yield.