4,4'-Bipyridine
Encyclopedia
4,4'-Bipyridine is a bipyridine
which is mainly used as a precursor to N,N'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium [(C5H4NCH3)2]2+, known as paraquat
. This species is electroactive
, and its toxicity arises from the ability of this dication to interrupt biological electron transfer
. Because of its structure, 4,4'-bipyridine can bridge between metal centres to give coordination polymers
.
Bipyridine
Bipyridines are a family of chemical compounds with the formula 2, which are formed by the coupling of two pyridine rings. Six isomers of bipyridine exist, but two isomers are prominent: 2,2'-bipyridine is a popular ligand in coordination chemistry and 4,4'-bipyridine is a precursor to the...
which is mainly used as a precursor to N,N'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium [(C5H4NCH3)2]2+, known as paraquat
Paraquat
Paraquat is the trade name for N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride, one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. Paraquat, a viologen, is quick-acting and non-selective, killing green plant tissue on contact. It is also toxic to human beings and animals...
. This species is electroactive
Redox
Redox reactions describe all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation state changed....
, and its toxicity arises from the ability of this dication to interrupt biological electron transfer
Electron transfer
Electron transfer is the process by which an electron moves from an atom or a chemical species to another atom or chemical species...
. Because of its structure, 4,4'-bipyridine can bridge between metal centres to give coordination polymers
Coordination polymers
A coordination polymer is an inorganic or organometallic polymer structure containing metal cation centers linked by ligands, extending in an array. It can also be described as a polymer whose repeat units are coordination complexes...
.