A simple and environmentally benign synthesis of polypyridine-polycarboxylic acids

An oxidation method using dilute nitric acid solutions under solvothermal conditions has been developed to synthesise a series of polypyridine-polycarboxylic acids. It has been successfully applied to a range of methyl substituted polypyridines including symmetrical and asymmetrical 2,2′-bipyridines; 2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridines and; 2,2′:6′,2″:6″,2?-tetra-pyridines and yields crystalline polypyridine-polycarboxylic acids in a single step. Simple product recovery through filtration yields a recyclable filtrate. More forcing conditions led to demethylation of the polypyridine ligand most probably via decarboxylation. This simple approach avoids potentially harmful metal-based oxidants and negates any issues associated with the disposal of their resultant (hazardous) waste.