A facile synthetic route for 2-pyridyl derivatives: direct preparation of a stable 2-pyridylzinc bromide and its copper-free and pd-catalyzed coupling reactions

Direct preparation of 2-pyridylzinc bromide has been developed. Interestingly, the subsequent coupling reactions with acid chlorides have been carried out without any transition metal catalyst. 2-Pyridylaryl compounds, symmetrical and unsymmetrical 2,2′-bipyridines were also successfully obtained from palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions of 2-pyridylzinc bromide under mild conditions.