A new synthesis of bis2-pyrid-2-ylethylamine LH from bis2-pyrid-2-ylethylhydroxylamine LOH, and the copper-dependent reduction of LOHto LHElectronic supplementary information ESI available: Full synthetic procedures and analytical data for the compounds in this study. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/dt/b3b310144d

Solutions of CuCl2LOH, and other reaction mixtures containing LOHand Cuii or Cui salts, degrade to yield dark green or brown residues containing the LHligand. In contrast, MCl2LOH M Zn, Ni, Co are indefinitely stable in solution and the solid state.