This paper describes the synthesis and characterisation of targeted 2,2′-bipyridine-3,3′,4,4′-tetracarboxylic acid and 2,2′-bipyridine-4,4′,5,5′-tetracarboxylic acid via succinct synthetic pathways. Further, we report methods for producing asymmetric bipyridines bearing both carboxylate and phosphonate anchoring groups in the ester protected form, and the first reported synthesis of a group of new polyoxo oligopyridine ligands based on terpyridine and quaterpyridine. A robust synthetic strategy using Krönhke conditions was developed and demonstrated for synthesising oligopyridine moieties targeted for application in the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). This class of novel ligands was designed to provide alternative anchoring functionality and to improve the metal oxide surface binding properties of coordination complexes in DSSC applications.