Two new sterically demanding bis (imino) bipyridine ligands, 6, 6′-{(2, 6-i-Pr2C6H3) NCR} 2C10H6N2 (R= H (L1), Me (L2)), have been prepared in high yield by the condensation reaction of 2, 6-diisopropylaniline with 6, 6′-(OCR) 2C10H6N2 (R= H, Me). Palladium (0)- mediated cross coupling of 2-(Bu3Sn)-6-{C (Me) OCH2CH2O} C5H3N with 2-Br-6-{C (Me) OCH2CH2O} C5H3N, followed by an acid-mediated deprotection, has been employed as ...