Copper-mediated dihydroxylation of 2,2′-bipyridine-like ligands under solvothermal conditions

2,2′-Bipyridine and 1,10-phenanthroline can be dihydroxylated by copper-mediated solvothermal reactions to form 3,3′-dihydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine and 2,9-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline, which have been isolated and structurally characterized in the pure form and its hexanuclear zinc complex, respectively.