Abstract Optically active 2, 2′-bipyridine (S, S)-1 was synthesized by radical cyclization and a nickel (0)-mediated coupling of enantiomerically pure bromopyridine (S)-8. Palladium, copper, and cobalt complexes of 1 were prepared. The solid-state structures of meso-1 and 11 were determined by X-ray crystal structure analysis.