Synthesis and photo-physical properties of methoxy-substituted π-conjugated-2,2′-bipyridines

4,4'-Bis-vinly-2,2' bipyridines have been known in the area of materials chemistry since last few decades. Bipyridine molecules bearing donor substituents in their pi backbone are examples of 'push-pull' molecules. Emissive properties of such ligands depend on the position of the donor unit in their pi backbone. The Horner-Wordsworth-Emmons reaction has been used extensively to synthesize such types of conjugated systems. Three newly synthesized highly conjugated 2,2' bipyridines (3a-c) have been described. The molecules 3a-c are highly emissive in the visible region at room temperature. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.