Unprecedented strong Lewis bases--synthesis and methyl cation affinities of dimethylamino-substituted terpyridines.

A versatile method for the synthesis of functionalized 2,2':6',2''-terpyridines by assembly of the terminal pyridine rings is presented. The cyclization precursors-bis-β-ketoenamides-are prepared from 4-substituted 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acids and acetylacetone or its corresponding enamino ketone. Treatment with trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate induces a twofold intramolecular condensation providing an efficient access to 4,4''-di- and 4,4',4''-trifunctionalized 6,6''-dimethyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridines. Using this method, hitherto unknown 4,4''-bis(dimethylamino)- and 4,4',4''-tris(dimethylamino)terpyridines have been prepared that show remarkably high calculated Lewis basicities.