Synthesis of some oligopyridine–galactose conjugates and their metal complexes: a simple entry to multivalent sugar ligands

Some galactose–oligopyridine conjugates were readily assembled by combining differently functionalized oligopyridines with peracetylated galactose derivatives. Variation in the structure of the components and of the linkers employed for their connection afforded adducts of different size, shape, and conformational mobility. Complexation of the bipyridine ligands with CuOTf and of the terpyridine ligand with Zn(OTf)2 afforded the corresponding peracetylated 2:1 and 1:1 complexes, respectively, as single species. Their structures were determined to be tetrahedral (Cu complexes) and trigonal-bipyramidal (Zn complex), on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. Removal of the acetyl protecting groups from the ligands afforded the corresponding polyols. The terpyridine–Zn(II) complex, unlike the bipyridine–Cu(I) complexes maintained their structures upon removal of the acetyl protecting groups.