6,6'-Dibromo-4,4'-di(hexoxymethyl)-2,2'- bipyridine: a new solubilizing building block for macromolecular and supramolecular applications.

Although brominated bipyridines and terpyridines are highly desirable synthetic building blocks for both ligand design and macro- or supramolecular applications, few such synthetic precursors have been reported that include much-needed solubilizing groups. Reported here is an inexpensive route to 2,6-dibromo-4-(hexoxymethyl)pyridine from citrazinic acid with an overall yield of 44% and its efficient conversion (60%) to 6,6'-dibromo-4,4'-di(hexoxymethyl)-2,2'-bipyridine via oxidative coupling.