Use of Stille-type cross-coupling as a route to oligopyridylimines

Abstract

The new tin reagents, 2-( n-Bu 3Sn)-6-{C(R)OCH 2CH 2O}-C 5H 3N, (R=H a , Me b ), have been employed in Stille-type cross-coupling reactions with a range of oligopyridylbromides generating, following a facile deprotection step, a series of formyl- and acetyl-functionalised oligopyridines. Condensation reactions with 2,6-diisopropylaniline has allowed access to families of novel sterically bulky multidentate N, N, N, N (tetradentate), N, N, N, N, N (pentadentate), N, N, N, N, N, N (sexidentate) and N, N, N, N, N, N, N (heptadentate) nitrogen donor ligands. This work represents a straightforward and rapid synthetic route for the preparation of oligopyridylimines, which are expected to act as useful components for the self-assembly of polymetallic complexes.