In a one-liter, three-neck flask was made 0.22 mole (5.0 g sodium) of sodamide in the usual way. The ammonia was replaced with 348 cc of xylene. The mixture was brought to reflux at 138° and 299.5 g (1.52 moles) of 4-(3-phenylpropyl)pyridine was added through a dropping funnel. Hydrogen evolution began immediately. Heating was continued for five hours at 138°-153° C. until hydrogen production slowed appreciably. The reaction mixture was cooled to around 100° C. and hydrolyzed with 100 cc of water. The oil layer was separated at room temperature and distilled through a Vigreaux column to give 182.5 g (0.93 moles) of unreacted 4-(3-phenylpropyl)pyridine and 62.9 g (0.16 mole) of 4,4'-di-(3-phenylpropyl)-2,2'-bipyridyl. The yield of 2,2'-bipyridyl product, based on 4-(3-phenylpropyl)pyridine consumed, was 54.0%.
