Preparation of a series of novel fluorophores, N-substituted 6-amino and 6,6″-diamino-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine by palladium-catalyzed amination

A new series of N-substituted 6-amino- and 6,6″-diamino-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (6-amino- and 6,6″-diamino-tpy) was conveniently synthesized in one-step by Pd-catalyzed amination of bromo-substituted tpys with various amines. For highly coordinating tpy substrates, use of appropriate chelating phosphine ligand was critical to achieve moderate to satisfactory yield. The prepared N-substituted 6-amino- and 6,6″-diamino-tpys exhibited moderate to intense fluorescence in dichloromethane with fine-tuned fluorescence maxima ranging from 385 to 455 nm.