Synthesis of tris((3-isoquinolyl)methyl)amine and bis((2-pyridyl)methyl)-(3-isoquinolyl)methylamine

Abstract The tripodal ligands tris((3-isoquinolyl)methyl)amine (TIQA) and bis((2-pyridyl)methyl)-(3-isoquinolyl)methylamine were synthesized from isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid in four steps and 28 and 31% overall yield, respectively. These ligands are structurally related to the important ligand tris((2-pyridyl)methyl)amine (TPA). Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry experiments indicate that TIQA forms complexes with CuCl 2 , ZnCl 2 and CdI 2 similar to those observed with TPA.