5,5′-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)-2,2′-bipyridine

The title compound, 5,5′-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)-2,2′- bipyridine, C₂₀H₂₄N₂Si₂, is a trimethylsilyl-protected dialkyne. It is a precursor in the preparation of platinum di-yne complexes and platinum poly-yne polymers. Such organic compounds are of interest because of the extended π-conjugation that occurs through the hetero-aromatic linker unit in the molecular backbone. Within the molecule, the silylalkyne groups are essentially linear and the bipyridine unit is approximately planar with a dihedral angle of 5.3 (1)° between the planes.