The synthesis of 2,2′:6′,2"-terpyridine ligands -: versatile building blocks for supramolecular chemistry

The tridentate ligand 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine is becoming increasingly widely used. Appended substituent groups may be utilized to tailor the properties of its complexes. 2,2':6',2''-Terpyridine ligands incorporating other metal binding functionalities and multinucleating ligands incorporating two or more terpyridine moieties may be used to assemble supramolecular coordination oligomers. The synthetic strategies used to prepare 2,2':6',2''-terpyridine ligands are reviewed comprehensively.