3-(2,2′-Bipyridine-4-yl)-2-propenoic acid ethyl ester which may be used for the introduction of metal coordination sites in polyacrylates is synthesized by an improved synthetic route to the key intermediate 4-bromo-2,2′-bipyridine working under microwave conditions, which leads to drastic shortening of reaction times, as well as to the reduction of reaction steps. In addition, a synthetic procedure to formyl-bipyridines that is not based on reductive or oxidative reaction conditions could be applied. Starting from the formyl-bipyridine derivative the title compound may be effectively generated using modified Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction conditions to yield the new ligand.
Graphical abstract