Terminal group effects on the fluorescence spectra of europium(III) nitrate complexes with a family of amide-based 2,3-dihydroxynaphthalene derivatives

Three ligands 2,2'-[2,3-naphthylenebis(oxy)]-bis(N,N-diethyl(acetamide)) (L(a)), 2,2'-[2,3-naphthylenebis(oxy)]-bis(N,N-diisopropyl(acetamide)) (L(b)) and 2,2'-[2,3-naphthylenebis(oxy)]-bis(N,N-dibutyl(acetamide)) (L(c)) and their europium(III) nitrate complexes were synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, fluorescence spectroscopy and conductivity. The europium atoms are coordinated by O-atoms from CO, Ar-O-C. With the difference of the ligands, the solid fluorescent intensities of the Eu complexes vary regularly. Some factors that influencing the fluorescent intensity were discussed.     

Electrochemical behavior of ascorbic acid at a 2,2'-[3,6-Dioxa-1,8-octanediylbis(nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-hydroquinone carbon paste electrode

Electrocatalytic oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA) at a carbon paste electrode, chemically modified 2,2'-[3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanediylbis(nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-hydroquinone, was thoroughly investigated. The results of cyclic voltammetry, double potential-step chronoamperometry, linear sweep voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) studies were used for the prediction of the mechanism of electrochemical oxidation of AA mediated with 2,2'-[3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanediylbis(nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-hydroquinone at the surface of the modified electrode. The diffusion coefficient (D = 2.45 x 10(-5) cm(2) s(-1)) and the kinetic parameters such as the electron transfer coefficient (alpha = 0.34) were also determined. The results of DPV using the 2,2'-[3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanediylbis(nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-hydroquinone-modified electrode were applied in a highly sensitive determination of AA in drug samples. A linear range of 3.0 x 10(-6) - 1.2 x 10(-4) M and the detection limit (3sigma) 3.8 x 10(-7) M were obtained for DPV determination of AA in buffered pH 7.00 solutions (0.1 M phosphate buffer).     

Molecular design of lipophilic disalicylic acid compounds with varying spacers for selective lead(II) extraction

Lipophilic disalicylic acids 5,5'-decyl-2,2'-[1,2-ethanediylbis(oxy)]bisbenzoic acid (1), 5,5'-decyl-2,2'-[1,3-propanediylbis(oxy)]bisbenzoic acid (2), 5,5'-decyl-2,2'-[oxybis(1,2-ethanediyl-oxy)]bisbenzoic acid (3), 3,5-bis[2'-(2'-carboxyphenoxy)ethyl]-4-oxahexacyclo-[5.4.1.0(2,6).0(3,10).0(5,9).0(8,11)]dodecane (4), and 1,3-bis[2'-(2'-carboxyphenoxy)ethyl]adamantane (5) are evaluated as selective Pb(II) extractants. The solvent extraction of Pb(II) and of Cu(II) from buffered aqueous solutions of varying pH into chloroform by ligands 1-5 is examined in relation to the molecular structure of the dicarboxylic acid extractant. Ligand 1, with an ethylene spacer between two lipophilic salicylic acid units, exhibits excellent extraction selectivity for Pb(II) over Cu(II). Lengthening the spacer in ligands 2 and 3 diminishes both the extraction efficiency and selectivity. Ligands 4 and 5, with rigid spacer units, show significant reductions in both Pb(II) and Cu(II) extraction. Slope analysis reveals that ligand 1 reacts in a 2:1 stoichiometry with Pb(II) in extraction, which differs from the 1:1 stoichiometries for 2 and 3. The differences in the half extraction pH (DeltapH(1/2)) values for Pb(II) and Cu(II) extraction are 1.29, 0.49, and 0.48 for 1-3, respectively.     

Synthesis of bridged and metallobridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s containing fluorescent oxamidobisbenzoyl linkers and their selective binding towards bile salts

A series of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) dimers containing fluorescent 2,2'-oxamidobisbenzoyl and 4,4'-oxamidobisbenzoyl linkers--that is, 6,6'-[2,2'-oxamidobis(benzoylamino)]ethyleneamino-6,6'-deoxy-bis(beta-CD) (2), 6,6'-[2,2'-oxamidobis(benzoylamino)]diethylenediamino-6,6'-deoxy-bis(beta-CD) (3), 6,6'-[4,4'-oxamidobis(benzoylamino)]ethyleneamino-6,6'-deoxy-bis(beta-CD) (4), and 6,6'-[4,4'-oxamidobis(benzoylamino)]diethylenediamino-6,6'-deoxy- bis(beta-CD) (5)--were synthesized from the corresponding oxamidobis(benzoic acid)s through treatment with mono[6-aminoethyleneamino-6-deoxy]-beta-CD or mono[6-diethylenetriamino-6-deoxy]-beta-CD. Further treatment of 2-5 with copper perchlorate gave their Cu(II) complexes 6-9 in satisfactory yields. The conformation and binding behavior of 2-9 towards two bile salt guests--sodium cholate (CA) and sodium deoxycholate (DCA)--was comprehensively investigated by circular dichroism, 2D NMR spectroscopy, and fluorescence spectroscopy in Tris-HCl buffer solution (pH 7.2) at 25 degrees C. Thanks to the cooperative host-linker-guest binding mode, the stoichiometric 1:1 complexes formed by bis(beta-CD)s 2-5 with bile salts gave high stability constants (KS values) of up to 10(3)-10(4) M(-1). Significantly, benefiting from the intramolecular 1:2 or 2:4 binding stoichiometry, the resulting complexes of metallobis(beta-CD)s 6-9 with bile salts gave much higher KS values of up to 10(6)-10(7) M(-2). The enhanced binding abilities of bis(beta-CD)s and metallobridged bis(beta-CD)s are discussed from the viewpoints of induced-fit interactions and multiple recognition between host and guest.     

Generation of 1,2-ethanebis(trithiocarbonic acid) dianion from 2,2′-[1,2-ethanediylbis(thio)]- bis-1,3-dithiolane and its reaction with alkyl halides

Generation of 1,2-ethanbis(trithiocarbonic acid) dianion from 2,2′-[1,2-ethanediylbis (thio)]bis-1,3-dithiolane and its reaction with alkyl halldes were investigated.     

Spectrophotometric study on the controlling factor of molecular selective binding of dyes by bridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s with diselenobis(benzoyl) linkers

A series of beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) dimers with 4,4'-diselenobis(benzoyl) linkers, that is, 6,6'-[4,4'-diselenobis(benzoyloxyl)]-bridged bis(beta-CD) (1a), 6,6'-[4,4'-diselenobis[2-(benzoylamino)ethyleneamino]]-bridged bis(beta-CD) (2a), and 6,6'-[4,4'-diselenobis[2-(benzoylamino)-3,6-diazaoctylamino]]-bridged bis(beta-CD) (3a), were synthesized in moderate yields by the reaction of 4,4'-diselenobis(benzoic acid) with beta-CD or oligo(ethylenediamino)-6-deoxy-beta-CD. Their binding behaviors with some structure-related substrates, such as acridine red (AR), neutral red (NR), rhodamine B (RhB), ammonium 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS), and 6-p-toluidino-2-naphthalenesulfonic acid (TNS), were investigated in aqueous phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.20) at 298.15 K by means of fluorescence, NMR, as well as circular dichroism spectroscopy and compared with those of their 2,2'-diselenobis(benzoyl)-linked analogues, that is, 6,6'-[2,2'-diselenobis(benzoyloxyl)]-bridged bis(beta-CD) (1b), 6,6'-[2,3'-diselenobis[2-(benzoylamino)ethyleneamino]]-bridged bis(beta-CD) (2b), and 6,6'-[2,2'-diselenobis[2-(benzoylamino)-3,6-diazaoctylamino]]-bridged bis(beta-CD) (3b). The results showed that bis(beta-CD)s 1a-3a, whose Se-Se bonds were located at the para position of the carboxyl group, gave stronger binding abilities toward nonlinear guests (RhB and ANS) than their analogues 1b-3b, whose Se-Se bonds were located at the ortho position relative to the carboxyl group. The molecular binding ability and selectivity of model substrates by these ditopic hosts were sufficiently discussed to reveal not only the cooperative contributions of the linker group and CD cavities upon inclusion complexation with dye guest molecules but also the controlling factors for the molecular selective binding.     

TiO2纳米颗粒对钌(II)三联吡啶配合物光损伤小牛胸腺DNA能力的影响

由于极短的激发态寿命, 钌(II)三联吡啶配合物对脱氧核糖核酸(DNA)的光损伤能力低下. 设计合成了三个钌(II)三联吡啶配合物[Ru(ttp)(tpy)]^2＋ (1), [Ru(ttp-COOH)(tpy)]^2＋ (2)和[Ru(ttp-COOH)(tpy-pyr)]^2＋ (3), 其中tpy为2,2':6',2"-三联吡啶, ttp为4′-(4-甲苯基)-2,2':6',2"-三联吡啶, ttp-COOH为4′-(4-羧基苯基)-2,2':6',2"-三联吡啶, tpy-pyr为4'-(1-芘基)-2,2':6',2"-三联吡啶. 比较了TiO₂纳米颗粒对它们光损伤小牛胸腺DNA的影响. 发现TiO₂纳米颗粒在空气和氩气条件下均可显著提高配合物3光损伤DNA的能力. TiO₂纳米颗粒和配合物3间的光诱导电子转移作用及其该作用生成的钌(III)物种可能是促进配合物3对DNA光损伤的主要原因.     

Electron-rich heteroaromatic conjugated bipyridine based ruthenium sensitizer for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

A novel heteroleptic ruthenium complex carrying a heteroaromatic-4,4'-pi-conjugated 2,2'-bipyridine [Ru(II)LL'(NCS)(2)] (L = 4,4'-bis[(E)-2-(3,4-ethylenedioxythien-2-yl)vinyl]-2,2'-bipyridine, L' = 4,4'-(dicarboxylic acid)-2,2'-bipyridine) was synthesized and used in dye-sensitized solar cells, yielding photovoltaic efficiencies of 9.1% under standard global AM 1.5 sunlight.     

NMR investigation of the interaction of vanadate with carbasilatranes in aqueous solutions

Reaction of vanadate with carbasilatranes [methoxy{N,N',N' '-2,2',3-[bis(1-methylethanolato)(propyl)]amino}silane (1), methoxy{N,N',N' '-2,2',3-[bis(1-ethanolethanolato)(propyl)]amino}silane (2), and {N,N',N' '-2,2',2-[bis(ethanolato)(glycolpropyl ether)]amino}silane (3)] in aqueous solution results in the formation of vanadosilicates and five-coordinated chelate vanadium(V) complexes as evidenced by 51V, 1H, and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Chiral carbasilatrane S,S-1 was characterized in the solid state by X-ray diffraction, revealing a trigonal bipyramidal geometry around the metal ion, with one unidentate methoxy group and one atrane nitrogen atom at the axial positions and one carbon and two atrane oxygen atoms at the equatorial plane of the bipyramid. Crystal data (Mo Kalpha; 100(2) K) are as follows: orthorhombic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1); a = 8.8751(6), b = 9.7031(7), c = 14.2263(12) A; Z = 4. The complexation of vanadium either with 1 or 2 is stereoselective yielding approximately 94% of the complex containing ligand in the S,R-configuration. The lower ability of the S,S- and R,R-diastereoisomers of 1 and 2 to ligate vanadate was attributed to stereochemical factors, dictating a square pyramidal geometry for the chelated complexes. A dynamic process between the vanadium chelate complexes and the respective carbasilatranes was evaluated by 2D {1H} EXSY NMR spectroscopy. These spectra show that the vanadate complexes with the open carbasilatranes exchange more slowly with the free ligand compared to the respective alcohol aminate complexes.     

一维链状铜配合物的合成及结构表征

The Copper(Ⅰ) complex [Cu(tpy)(CN)]_n[L=4′-(4-cyanophenyl)-2,2′∶6′,2″-terpyridine ] has been synthe-sized by reaction of ligand L with CuCN using solvothermal method and characterized by IR, elemental analysis and X-ray diffraction single-crystal structure analysis. The crystal structure indicates that the complex crystallizes in monoclinic system, space group P2₁/c with a=0.884 45(18) nm, b=0.819 55(16) nm, c=2.702 90(7) nm, β=102.780(3)°, V=1.910 7(7) nm³, Z=4, D_c=1.495 g·cm^-3, F(000)=864.0, R₁=0.059 3, wR₂=0.123 3. The Cu(Ⅰ) ion in the title complex has a slightly distorted tetrahedron coordination geometry. Each Cu⁺ is coordinated with two nitrogen atoms from two pyridine ring of 4′-(4-cyanophenyl)-2,2′∶6′,2″-terpyridine, and then linked by two CN^- ligands with neighbor Cu⁺ forming a zigzag infinite one-dimensional chain structure. CCDC: 686952.     

新型Schiff碱单核配合物的合成及光谱特征

首次报道了新型Schiff碱配合物-双[N,N'-亚乙基-2,2'-(苯亚甲基)二(3,4-二甲基吡咯-5-醛缩亚胺)]合单金属配合物MH~2[M-Mn(Ⅱ)、Fe(Ⅲ)Cl、Cr(Ⅲ)Cl、Cu(Ⅱ)、Co(Ⅱ)、Ni(Ⅱ)、Zn(Ⅱ)的合成方法及光谱特征。     

Efficient green-blue-light-emitting cationic iridium complex for light-emitting electrochemical cells

A highly luminescent novel cationic iridium complex [iridium bis(2-phenylpyridine)(4,4'-(dimethylamino)-2,2'-bipyridine)]PF6 was synthesized and characterized using NMR, UV-visible absorption, and emission spectroscopy and electrochemical methods. This complex displays intense photoluminescence maxima in the green-blue region of the visible spectrum and exhibits unprecedented phosphorescence quantum yields, 80 +/- 10% with an excited-state lifetime of 2.2 mus in a dichloromethane solution at 298 K. Single-layer light-emitting electrochemical cells with the charged complex as conducting and electroluminescent material sandwiched between indium-tin oxide and Ag electrodes were fabricated, which emit green-blue light with an onset voltage as low as 2.5 V. Density functional theory calculations were performed to provide insight into the electronic structure of the [iridium bis(2-phenylpyridine)(4,4'-(dimethylamino)-2,2'-bipyridine)]PF6 complex, comparing these results with those obtained for [iridium bis(2-phenylpyridine)(4,4'-tert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine)]PF6.     

New Heteroaromatic Complexing Agents and Luminescence of Their Europium(III) and Terbium(III) Chelates

Twelve heteroaromatic complexing agents 9a–I were synthesized with the purpose to develop suitable labels for time-resolved luminescence-based bioaffinity assays. The relative luminescence yields, excitation maxima, and emission decay constants of their europium(III) and terbium(III) chelates were determined. According to these results, 2,2′,2″,2?-[(2,2′-bipyridine-6,6′-diyl)bis(methylenenitrilo)]tetrakis (acetic acid) ( 9e ) and 2,2′,2″,2?-[(2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine-6,6″-diyl)bis(methylenenitrilo)] tetrakis(acetic acid) ( 91 ) are the most promising agents.     

Molecular recognition studies on supramolecular systems. 32. Molecular recognition of dyes by organoselenium-bridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s.

A series of novel bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s tethered with organoselenium linkers, i.e., 6,6'-(o-phenylene-diseleno)-bridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin) (2), 6,6'-[2,2'-diselenobis(benzoyloxy)]-bridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin) (3), and 6,6'-[2,2'-diselenobis[2-(benzoylamino)ethylamino]]-bridged bis(beta-cyclodextrin) (4), were synthesized from beta-cyclodextrin (1). The inclusion complexation behavior of 1-4 with some dyes, such as 8-anilinonaphthalenesulfonate (ANS), Brilliant Green, Crystal Violet, Tropaeolin OO, Auramine O, and Methyl Orange, was investigated in aqueous phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.20) at 25 degrees C by UV-vis, fluorescence, and circular dichroism spectrometry, as well as fluorescence lifetime measurements. The complex stability constants (Ks) and Gibbs free energy changes (delta Go) for the stoichiometric 1:1 inclusion complexation of 1-4 with the dyes were obtained by the spectrophotometric or spectropolarimetric titrations. The bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s 2-4 showed much higher affinities toward these guest dyes than native beta-cyclodextrin 1 with fairly good molecular selectivities. The cooperative binding abilities of these bis(beta-cyclodextrin)s are discussed from the viewpoints of size/shape-fit interaction, induced-fit concept, and multiple recognition mechanism.     

Syntheses and Crystal Structures of Two Zn(Ⅱ) Coordination Polymers Constructed with 4,4’-(Dihydroxymethylene)dibenzoic Acid

Two new isomorphous metal-organic coordination polymers, [Zn(dhmdb)(2,2'- bpy)]n 1 and [Zn(dhmdb)(1,10-phen)]n 2, have been obtained under hydrothermal reactions from 4,4'-(dihydroxymethylene)dibenzoic acid (H2dhmdb), Zn(NO3)2·6H2O and 2,2'-pyridine or 1,10- phenanthroline, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 have been characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, thermal analysis and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The zigzag chains of 1 and 2 are linked into three-dimensional supramolecular networks by both O-H…O hydrogen bonds and π…π stacking interactions. Crystal data for 1: ZnC25H18N2O6, Mr = 507.78, orthorhombic, space group Pbca, a = 14.031(3), b = 10.826(2), c = 27.343(6), V = 4153.5(14)3, Z = 8, Dc = 1.624 g/cm3, F(000) = 2080, μ = 1.231 mm-1, R = 0.0699 and wR = 0.1829. Crystal data for 2: ZnC27H18N2O6, Mr = 531.80, orthorhombic, space group Pbca, a = 13.796(3), b = 10.809(2), c = 28.612(6), V = 4266.8(15)3, Z = 8, Dc = 1.656 g/cm3, F(000) = 2176, μ = 1.203 mm-1, R = 0.0454 and wR = 0.1399.     

Amide Group Coordination to the Pb(2+) Ion

The binary and ternary (2,2'-bipyridine) complexes of dipositive lead formed by N-carbonyl and N-sulfonyl amino acids, which are ligands containing the peptide and the sulfonamide group, respectively, were investigated in aqueous solution by NMR and differential pulse polarography, and some were also characterized crystallographically. N-Tosylglycine, N-tosyl-beta-alanine, and N-benzoylglycine behave as simple carboxylate ligands at acid pH, while around neutrality they switch to dianionic N,O-bidentate chelating ligands due to the involvement of the deprotonated amide nitrogen as an additional donor site. The same coordination behavior is maintained in the presence of 2,2'-bipyridine. The binary and ternary species formed in solution, and their stability constants were determined and compared with those of the homologous complexes of Pd(2+), Cu(2+), Cd(2+), and Zn(2+). The Pb(2+) ion is the only dipositive metal which is effective in promoting peptide nitrogen deprotonation in benzoylglycine. The molecular structures of [Pb(N-tosylglycinato-N,O)(H(2)O)] (1), [Pb(N-benzoylglycinato-O)(2)(H(2)O)(2)].2H(2)O (2), and [Pb(N-tosylglycinato-O)(2)(bpy)] (3) were determined by X-ray crystallography (O and N,O refer to the ligands binding as carboxylates and as N,O-chelating dianions, respectively). These compounds are all polymeric with six- to eight-coordinate metals showing distorted coordination geometries indicative of a stereochemically active metal lone pair. Polymerization is invariably determined by a bidentate chelate carboxylate group with one oxygen bridging between two metals, and in 2 and 3 it occurs through the formation of chains of Pb(2)O(2) square-planar rings. The binding set in 1, involving a deprotonated amide nitrogen and a sulfonic oxygen, is unprecedented for the Pb(2+) ion. This work provides new information on the solution and solid state chemistry of dipositive lead with ligands of biological interest, a research area that has received little attention in the past, although it is of great relevance for understanding the mechanisms of metal toxicity.     

hree Inorganic-organic Composite Polyoxotungstates:Syntheses, Characterization and Structures of [Cu(2,2'-bpy)2]5[α-PW11.5Cu0.5O40]·2H2O,[Co(2,2'-bpy)2(N3)2]4H3[α-PW12O40]·3H2O and [Cu(2,2'-bpy)2(4,4'-bpy)]2[α-GeW12O40]·4H2O

Three new inorganic-organic composite polyoxotungstates [Cu(2,2'- bpy)2]5[α- PW11.5Cu0.5O40]·2H2O 1, [Co(2,2'-bp3)2(N3)2]4H3[α-PW12O40]·3H2O 2 and [Cu(2,2'-bpy)2(4,4'- bpy)]2[α-GeW12O40].4H2O 3 (2,2'-bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-bpy = 4,4'-bipyridine) have been hydrothermally synthesized and structurally characterized. 1 crystallizes in the orthorhombie space group Pna21 with α = 27.847(3), b = 21.597(2), c = 20.1179(19) A, V = 12099(2) A3, Z = 4, GOF= 1.038, R = 0.0427 and wR = 0.1035; 2 belongs to the triclinic space group P1 with a= 12.31150(10), b = 16.1954(4), c = 19.36290(10) A, α = 99.366(11), β=105.168(8),γ = 111.836(8)°, V = 3309.98(9) A3, Z = 1, GOF = 1.024, R = 0.0739 and wR = 0.2216; and 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 12.858(4), b = 20.943(6), c = 15.598(5) A, β = 102.338(5)°, V = 4103(2) A3, Z = 2, GOF = 1.026, R = 0.0557 and wR = 0.1316. The common structural features of 1～3 are that their molecular structures all consist of a saturated a-Keggin polyoxoanion and several discrete metal-organic moieties. Intriguingly, 2 and 3 are composed of metal-organic coordination moieties with two mixed ligands.     

新型Schiff碱双核配合物的合成及光谱特征

首次报道了新型Schiff碱双核配合物-双[N,N"-亚烃基-2,2'(苯亚甲基)二(3,4-二甲基吡咯-5醛缩亚胺)]合双锰及双铁配合物的合成方法及光谱特征。     

Electrocatalytic determination of epinephrine and uric acid using a novel hydroquinone modified carbon paste electrode

A sensitive and selective electrochemical method for the determination of epinephrine(EP) was developed using a modified carbon paste electrode(MCPE) with 2,2’-[3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanediylbis(nitriloethylidyne)]-bis-hydroquinone(DOH).Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the redox properties of this modified electrode at various solution pH values and at various scan rates.In differential pulse voltammetry,the modified electrode could separate the oxidation peak potentials of EP and uric acid(UA) present in the solution but at the unmodified CPE the peak potentials were indistinguishable.This method was also examined for determination of EP in EP injection.     

Tetradentate vs pentadentate coordination in copper(II) complexes of pyridylbis(aminophenol) ligands depends on nucleophilicity of phenol donors

The ligand binding preferences of a series of potentially pentadentate pyridylbis(aminophenol) ligands were explored. In addition to the previously reported ligands 2,2'-(2-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)diphenol (H(2)L(1)) and 6,6'-(2-methyl-2-(pyridin-2-yl)propane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(2,4-di-tert-butylphenol) (H(2)L(1-tBu)), four new ligands were synthesized: 6,6'-(2-methyl-2(pyridine-2-yl)propane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(2,4-dibromophenol) (H(2)L(1-Br)), 6,6'-(2-methyl-2(pyridine-2-yl)propane-1,3diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(2-methoxyphenol) (H(2)L(1-MeO)), 2,2'-(2-methyl-2(pyridine-2-yl)propane-1,3diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)bis(4-nitrophenol) (H(2)L(1-NO2)), and 2,2'-(2-phenylpropane-1,3-diyl)bis(azanediyl)bis(methylene)diphenol (H(2)L(2)). These ligands, when combined with copper(II) salts and base, form either tricopper(II) species or monocopper(II) species depending on the nucleophilicity of the phenol groups in the ligands. All copper complexes were characterized by X-ray crystallography, cyclic voltammetry, and spectroscopic methods in solution. The ligands in trimeric complexes [{CuL(1)(CH(3)CN)}(2)Cu](ClO(4))(2) (1), [{CuL(1)Cl}(2)Cu] (1a), and [{CuL(2)(CH(3)CN)}(2)Cu](ClO(4))(2) (1b) and monomeric complex [CuL(1-tBu)(CH(3)OH)] (2) coordinate in a tetradentate mode via the amine N atoms and the phenolato O atoms. The pyridyl groups in 1, 1a, and 2 do not coordinate, but instead are involved in hydrogen bonding. Monomeric complexes [CuL(1-Br)] (3a), [CuL(1-NO2)] (3b), and [CuL(1-MeO)Na(CH(3)OH)(2)]ClO(4) (3c) have their ligands coordinated in a pentadentate mode via the amine N atoms, the phenolato O atoms, and the pyridyl N atom. The differences in tetradentate vs pentadentate coordination preferences of the ligands correlate to the nucleophilicity of the phenolate donor groups, and coincide with the electrochemical trends for these complexes.