Synthesis of 2,2′‐Bipyridines: Versatile Building Blocks for Sexy Architectures and Functional Nanomaterials

Abstract The latest synthetic strategies to prepare 2,2′‐bipyridine and its mono‐substituted, symmetrical and unsymmetrical 3,3′‐, 4,4′‐, 5,5′‐, and 6,6′‐disubstituted derivatives are critically discussed and evaluated. Different coupling procedures to achieve new symmetrical and unsymmetrical functionalized 2,2′‐bipyridines, such as Stille‐type, Negishi‐type, and Suzuki‐type cross‐coupling reactions are discussed in detail. Moreover, condensation procedures that allow further variations are presented. The application of functional group transformations for access to additional groups is examined. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)