In this paper we describe the synthesis of amino-and bis(bromomethyl)-substituted derivatives of phenanthroline (phen),These substituted bi-and tetradentate N-heteroaromatic ligands are potential synthons for the preparation of the fullerene ligands 4-9. The diketones, 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione 11a (phendione), 2,2-pyridyl 11b and 1,4-dibromo-2,3-butanedione 33 were used as starting materials. Phendione was converted into the phendiamine 13 by a two-step synthesis via the dioxime of the diketone 11a. Amino-substituted dppz and dpq derivatives were obtained by the reduction of the corresponding nitro compounds that were obtained by the Schiff base condensation of the diketones 11a and 11b and the appropriate o-phenylenediamine