4′-(5-Methylfuran-2-yl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine: A New Ligand Obtained from a Biomass-Derived Aldehyde with Potential Application in Metal-Catalyzed Reactions

The new ligand 4′-(5-methylfuran-2-yl)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (1) was prepared in one step from 2-acetylpyridine and 5-methylfurfural. The latter is an aldehyde that can be readily obtained from biomass. The new terpyridine molecule was characterized by 1H and 13C-NMR spectroscopy as well as by elemental analyses and HR-MS. Owing to its chelating properties, this new terpyridine molecule was tested as a ligand in a metal-catalyzed reaction: The Ni-catalyzed dimerization of benzyl bromide.