A new series of potentially hexadentate ligands derived from 2,2′-bipyridine

Reaction of 2,2′-bipyridine-6-carboxaldehyde with the appropriate aliphatic diamine in MeOH and subsequent reduction with NaBH4 gives the new, potentially hexadentate, ligands N,N′-bis(2,2′-bipyridin-6-ylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (bmet), N,N′-bis(2,2′-bipyridin-6-ylmethyl)propane-1,3-diamine (bmpp) and N,N′-bis(2,2′-bipyridin-6-ylmethyl)hexane-1,6-diamine (bmhx). The syntheses and characterisation of these ligands are reported; the ligands are isolated as the hydrochloride salts, with purification effected by either recrystallisation or cation exchange chromatography. [Co(bmet)](ClO4)3 · H2O is obtained on reaction of bmet · 4.25HCl · 2.5H2O with Na3[Co(O2CO)3] · 3H2O, and X-ray structural analysis shows this to have a pair of very short Co–N bonds. The synthesis and characterisation of the first coordination complex containing 6-(aminomethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (amb) is also described.

Graphical abstractThe syntheses and characterisation of the new, potentially hexadentate, ligands N,N′-bis(2,2′-bipyridin-6-ylmethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine (bmet), N,N′-bis(2,2′-bipyridin-6-ylmethyl)propane-1,3-diamine (bmpp) and N,N′-bis(2,2′-bipyridin-6-ylmethyl)hexane-1,6-diamine (bmhx) are reported and the synthesis and crystal structure of the mononuclear complex [Co(bmet)](ClO4)3 · H2O are detailed. The first transition metal complex of 6-(aminomethyl)-2,2′-bipyridine (amb) is also described.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide