Recent work has shown that reaction of CuX₂ (X = Cl, Br) with a variety of pyrazine derivatives (L) leads to formation of the complexes Cu(L)X₂ which crystallize as pairs of L-bridged chains linked in pairs by bihalide bridges generating the rails and rungs of a ladder motif, respectively. Preliminary results suggest that the antiferromagnetic exchange through the bihalide bridges does not change significantly from chloride to bromide, which is unexpected given the fact that exchange through bromide is usually significantly stronger, while exchange through the pyrazine-analogue does vary. In an attempt to model these compounds, we are attempting the preparation and analysis of CuX₂ complexes of 2,2'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridine. Magnetic exchange through the bipyridine should be weak, yielding systems that are effectively equivalent to the isolated rung interactions of the substituted pyrazine compounds. Preliminary results will be presented.