A route to 3,3'-disubstituted-2,2'-bipyridines from 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-quinone is described. The methodology involves the 1,2-addition of an organometallic reagent to the quinone, followed by lead tetraacetate cleavage of the diol. This, in turn, is followed by Luche or Wolf-Kishner reduction affording diols or alkanes respectively.