Synthesis of 2-aminomethyl-1,10-phenantroline. A new chelating agent and versatile synthon for other chelating compounds

The synthesis of 2-aminomethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (4) from 1,10-phenanthroline (1) is described. The reduction of 2-cyano-1,10-phenanthroline (3) to 4 in the presence of 10% palladium on carbon in acetic acid under mild reaction conditions also proved to be a very efficient method for conversion of cyanopyridines to methylaminopyridines.