Soluble 4-tert-butylphenyl substituted derivatives of 2, 2′: 6′, 2 ″-terpyridine, 2, 2′: 6′, 2 ″: 6 ″, 2 ″′-quaterpyridine, 2, 2′: 6′, 2 ″: 6 ″, 2 ″′: 6 ″′, 2 ″″- quinquepyridine and 2, 2′: 6′, 2 ″: 6 ″, 2 ″′: 6 ″′, 2 ″″: 6 ″″, 2 ″″′- sexipyridine have been prepared. The ligands and their metal complexes are more soluble than unsubstituted analogues, but the introduction of the bulky substituent does not ...