Versatile tools in the construction of substituted 2,2'-bipyridines-cross-coupling reactions with tin, zinc and boron compounds.

2,2'-Bipyridines are among the most widely used classes of chelating ligands that have found applications in the fields of coordination chemistry, supra-, nano- and macromolecular chemistry, analytical and photochemistry, but also in asymmetric synthesis and natural product chemistry. Hence, there is a huge demand for efficient synthetic approaches to functionalized derivatives. Modern cross-coupling procedures have been proven to be particularly effective in this context. This critical review will give an overview about the advances made so far focussing mainly on cross-coupling reactions with tin, zinc and boron compounds for the achievement of interesting, versatile and unusual substitution patterns (156 references).