A New Synthesis of 6,6'-Dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine by Coupling of 2-Bromo-6-methylpyridine with Raney-Nickel as Reagent

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-1987-28010

A new reaction of 2-bromo-6-methylpyridine 1 is described.Compound 1, when refluxed in dry toluene with a stochiometric amount of thoroughly dried and degassed Raney-Nickel, yields 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine-N,N'-nickel dibromide 2.Subsequent hydrolysis of 2 (water), followed by extraction (chloroform) and crystallization from ligroine gives the desired ligand 3, 6,6'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine, a useful reagent in the synthesis of polypyridines and related macrocyclic compounds.