N-Phenanthroline glycosylamines: synthesis and copper(II) complexes

A series of novel N-(1,10-phenanthrolin-5-yl)-β-glycopyranosylamines was obtained with excellent stereoselectivity and synthetically useful yields by treatment of 5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline with different unprotected monosaccharides, using (NH4)2SO4 as an efficient promoter. Copper(II) complexes having a 2:1 mole ratio of the bidentate ligand phenanthroline N-glycoside and the metal were also prepared.