Copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of sulfonamides with aryl iodides and bromides facilitated by amino acid ligands

A highly general, convenient, and inexpensive catalyst system was developed for the N-arylation of sulfonamides with aryl iodides or bromides by using 5-20 mol % of CuI as catalyst, 20 mol % of N-methylglycine (for aryl iodides) or N,N-dimethylglycine (for aryl bromides) as ligand, and K₃PO₄ as base.     

Enantioselective alkynylation to aldimines catalyzed by chiral 2,2′-di(2-aminoaryloxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl-copper(I) complexes

The enantioselective alkynylation of aldimines with terminal acetylenes catalyzed by chiral Cu(I) complexes with (R)-2,2′-di(2-aminoaryloxy)-1,1′-binaphthyl ligands (7) was examined. Chiral C₂-symmetric N,N-ligands 7, which have primary aniline moieties, were readily prepared from inexpensive (R)-1,1′-binaphthol (BINOL) as a chiral source. In particular, the reaction of N-benzylidenebenzeneamine 1a with phenylacetylene 2a proceeded smoothly in the presence of 5 mol % of (CuOTf)₂·C₆H₅CH₃ and 10 mol % of (R)-7d at room temperature for 24 h, and the corresponding propargylamine 3a was obtained with up to 82% ee.     

Preparation,spectroscopic characterization and X-ray crystal and molecular structures of nickel(II), copper(II) and zinc(II) complexes of the Schiff base formed from isatin and S-methyldithiocarbazate (Hisa-sme)

Complexes of general formula, [M(isa-sme)₂] · n(solvate) [M = Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺; isa-sme = monoanionic form of the Schiff base formed by condensation of isatin with S-methyldithiocarbazate; n = 1 or 1.5; solvate = MeCN, DMSO, MeOH or H₂O] have been synthesized and characterized by a variety of physicochemical techniques. An X-ray crystallographic structure determination of the [Ni(isa-sme)₂] · MeCN complex reveals a six-coordinate, distorted octahedral geometry. The two uninegatively charged, tridentate, Schiff base ligands are coordinated to the nickel(II) ion meridionally via the amide O-atoms, the azomethine N-atoms and the thiolate S-atoms. By contrast, the crystal structure of [Zn(isa-sme)₂] · MeOH shows a four-coordinate distorted tetrahedral geometry. The two dithiocarbazate ligands are coordinated as N, S bidentate chelates with the amide O-atom not coordinated. The structure of the copper(II) complex [Cu(isa-sme)₂] · DMSO is complicated and comprises two different complexes in the asymmetric unit, one four- and the other five-coordinate. The four-coordinate copper(II) has a distorted (flattened) tetrahedral geometry as seen in the Zn(II) analogue whereas the five-coordinate copper(II) has a distorted square-pyramidal geometry with one ligand coordinated to the copper(II) ion as a tridentate (N, S, O) ligand and the other coordinated as a bidentate N, S chelate. EPR spectroscopy indicates that in solution only one form is present, that being a distorted tetrahedral complex.     

Cu(II) and Pd(II) complexes of N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)aminopyridines

N-(2-Hydroxybenzyl)aminopyridines (Lⁱ) react with Cu(II) and Pd(II) ions to form complexes in the compositions Cu(Lⁱ)₂(CH₃COO)₂ · nH₂O (n = 0, 2, 4), Pd(Lⁱ)₂Cl₂ · nC₂H₅OH (n = 0, 2) and Pd(L²)₂Cl₂ · 2H₂O. In the complexes, the ligands are neutral and monodentate which coordinate through pyridinic nitrogen. Crystal data of the complexes obtained from 2-amino pyridine derivative have pointed such a coordinating route and comparison of the spectral data suggests the validity of similar complexation modes of other analog ligands. Cu(II) complex of N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-2-aminopyridine (L¹), [Cu(L¹)₂(CH₃COO)₂] has slightly distorted square planar cis-mononuclear structure which is built by two oxygen atoms of two monodentate carboxylic groups disposed in cis-position and two nitrogen atoms of two pyridine rings. The remaining two oxygen atoms of two carboxylic groups form two Cu and H bridges containing cycles which joint at same four coordinated copper(II) ion. IR and electronic spectral data and the magnetic moments as well as the thermogravimetric analyses also specify on mononuclear octahedric structure of complexes [Cu(L²)₂(CH₃COO)₂ · 2H₂O] and [Cu(L³)₂(CH₃COO)₂ · 4H₂O] where L² and L³ are N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-2- or 3-aminopyridines, respectively.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of polynuclear complexes of Cu with 1-methyl-1,3-imidazoline-2-thione

Reactions of equimolar solutions of copper(I) halides with 1-methyl-1,3-imidazoline-2-thione (SC₄H₆N₂) in acetonitrile have yielded a trinuclear complex, {Cu₃(η¹-Br)₃(μ-SC₄H₆N₂)₃} · CH₃CN 1, and 1D polymer, {Cu₂(μ-I)₂(μ-SC₄H₆N₂)₂}_n2. The thio-ligands/halogens adopt μ-S, η¹-X or μ-X modes. There is weak interaction between trinuclear units {Cu···Br, 3.025 Å} and Cu···Cu contacts lie in the range, 2.974(2)–3.650(2) Å. Polymer 2 has alternating Cu₂I₂ and Cu₂S₂ cores involving sulfur/iodine bridging in a twisted ribbon type arrangement with short Cu···Cu distances {2.6912(9) and 2.785(9) Å}, respectively. The polynuclear complexes in dimethyl sulfoxide exhibit intense fluorescent bands {λ_em = 319 (1) and 322 (2)}.     

Enantioselective conjugate addition of dialkylzinc to cyclic enones catalyzed by chiral binaphthyldiamine-copper(I) complexes

The enantioselective conjugate addition of dialkylzinc (R₂Zn) to cyclic enones was examined using chiral binaphthyldiamine-copper(I) catalysts. Under the present reaction conditions, chiral C₂-symmetric [RZn(II)]₂-diamine-Cu(I) complexes were formed from chiral binaphthyldiamine, R₂Zn, and copper(I or II) chloride in situ. The reaction of 2-cyclohexenone with Et₂Zn proceeded smoothly in the presence of the corresponding chiral copper(I) complex (5 mol %) and achiral 2,6-diphenylaniline (10 mol %), and the desired Et-adduct was obtained with up to 76% ee in 95% yield.     

Coordination to copper(II) strongly enhances the in vitro antimicrobial activity of pyridine-derived N(4)-tolyl thiosemicarbazones

Five copper(II) complexes with N(4)-ortho, N(4)-meta and N(4)-para-tolyl thiosemicarbazones derived from 2-formyl and 2-acetylpyridine were obtained and thoroughly characterized. The crystal structure of N(4)-meta-tolyl-2-acetylpyridine thiosemicarbazone (H2Ac4mT) was determined, as well as that of its copper(II) complex [Cu(2Ac4mT)Cl], which contains an anionic ligand and a chloride in the coordination sphere of the metal. The in vitro antimicrobial activities of all thiosemicarbazones and their copper(II) complexes were tested against Salmonella typhimurium and Candida albicans. Upon coordination a substantial decrease in the minimum inhibitory concentration, from 225 to 1478 μmol L⁻¹ for the thiosemicarbazones to 5–30 μmol L⁻¹ for the complexes was observe against the growth of Salmonella typhimurium and from 0.7–26 to 0.3–7 μmol L⁻¹ against the growth of C. albicans, suggesting that complexation to copper(II) could be an interesting strategy of dose reduction.     

New chiral ferrocenyl amidophosphine ligand for remarkable improvement of enantioselectivities in copper-catalyzed addition of diethylzinc to N-sulfonylimines

(S)-N-Ferrocenoyl-2-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]-pyrrolidine 3 was conveniently prepared from commercially available l-proline and ferrocenecarboxylic acid. In the presence of a catalytic amount of chiral ligand 3 (4 mol %) and Cu(OTf)₂ (3 mol %), the asymmetric addition of diethylzinc to N-sulfonylimines was achieved in 57-99% yield with up to 88% ee.     

The first bis(orotato–N,O) complex: Synthesis,crystal structure,spectroscopic and thermal characterization of (chaH)2[Cu(HOr–N,O)2(cha)] · 2H2O (cha = cyclohexylamine and HOr = orotate(2−))

The novel bis(cyclohexylaminium) cyclohexylaminebis(orotate–N,O)cuprate(II) dihydrate, (C₆H₁₅N)₂[Cu(C₅H₂N₂O₄)₂(C₆H₁₄N)] · 2H₂O, has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic measurements, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction. The Cu(II) complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c. The copper atom in the five-coordinated (chaH)₂[Cu(HOr–N,O)₂(cha)] · 2H₂O is chelated by a deprotonated pyrimidine nitrogen atom and carboxylate oxygen atom as a bis(bidentate) ligand and the cyclohexylamine ligand completes the square-pyramidal coordination. The thermal decomposition of the complex has been predicted by the help of thermal analysis (TG, DTG and DTA).     

Aqua bridged Cu2 dimer of a heptadentate N4O3 coordinating ligand: Synthesis,structure and magnetic properties

The N₄O₃ coordinating heptadentate imidazolidinyl phenolate ligand, H₃L (2-(2′-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3-bis[4-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-azabut-3-enyl]-1,3-imidazolidine) forms with Cu(II) a rare aqua bridged complex [{Cu₂(μ-L)(μ-H₂O)}₂](ClO₄)₂ · 4.5H₂O (1 · 4.5H₂O). Complex 1 · 4.5H₂O contains two crystallographically different but chemically equivalent dinuclear [Cu₂(μ-L)(μ-H₂O)]⁺ cationic units in the asymmetric unit. The copper atoms of each dinuclear unit are in a distorted square-pyramidal environment and are held together by phenolate, imidazolidinyl and aqua bridges with a Cu···Cu separation of av. 3.34 Å. The compound exhibits a very weak antiferromagnetic exchange interaction (J = −0.77 cm⁻¹, ? = −2 J?₁?₂) between the two copper(II) (S = 1/2) ions. The ¹H NMR spectrum of the complex shows a total of 17 hyperfine shifted peaks, as expected from the idealized C_s symmetry of the compound, spread over a very large window of chemical shift, spanning about 250 ppm. The complex, having an appropriate intermetallic separation for catechol binding, shows catecholase like activity in MeCN at 25 °C, with the aerobic oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol (3,5-DTBC) to 3,5-di-tert-butylquinone (3,5-DTBQ).     

Synthesis and coordination chemistry of new tetradentate N2S2 donor Schiff-base ligand ca2-dapte: Mononuclear and dinuclear copper(I) complexes [Cu(ca2dapte)]ClO4 and [{Cu(PPh3)(X)}2(ca2dapte)] (X = I and Br)

A mononuclear copper(I) complex, [Cu(ca₂dapte)]ClO₄ (1), and two dinuclear copper(I) complexes, [{Cu(PPh₃)(X)}₂(ca₂dapte)] (X = I (2) and Br (3)), of a new tetradentate N₂S₂ donor Schiff-base ligand ca₂dapte have been prepared (ca₂dapte = N,N′-bis(trans-cinnamaldehyde)-1,2-di(o-iminophenylthio)ethane). These compounds have been characterized by elemental analyses (CHN), FT-IR, UV–Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structures of these copper(I) complexes have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The coordination geometry around Cu(I) centers in these complexes is a distorted tetrahedron. The ca₂dapte is coordinated to Cu(I) as a tetradentate ligand in 1, while it acts as a bis-bidentate bridging ligand in 2 and 3.     

Enantioselective Henry reaction catalyzed by copper(II)—Cinchona alkaloid complexes

An enantioselective Henry reaction was efficiently carried out under mild reaction conditions in the presence of catalytic 9-epi and natural Cinchona alkaloids and copper (II) acetate. The best catalytic performance was observed for native quinine (12 mol %) and Cu(OAc)₂ (10 mol %). Aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes with nitromethane and its α-substituted derivatives provided the corresponding β-nitroalcohols in good to reasonable yields, high syn-diastereoselectivity, and (S)-enantioselectivity of up to 94% ee.     

Di- and trinuclear olato-bridged copper(II) compounds of 3,7-bis(3-olatopropyl)-1,3,5,7-tetraazabicyclo[3,3,1]nonane (protan); the structures of [{Cu(μ-protan)}2Cu](ClO4)2·H2O and [{Cu(μ-protan)}Cu(OH)2](ClO4)2·0.5(EtOH)

A compound with a linear trinuclear copper(II) cation, [Cu₃(μ-protan)₂](ClO₄)₂·H₂O (protanH₂ = 3,7-bis(3-hydroxypropyl)-1,3,5,7-tetraazabicyclo[3,3,1]-nonane) is formed by reaction of copper(II) perchlorate, 3-aminopropanol, ammonia and methanal. The cation is approximately centrosymmetrical with Cu?Cu = 2.9870(5) and 2.9485(5) Å. The terminal copper(II) ions are coordinated by nitrogen atoms 3 and 7 of the tetraazabicycle (Cu–N_mean = 2.021(5) Å) and the two oxygen atoms of the 3,7-bis(3-olatopropyl) substituents (Cu–O_mean = 1.911(3) Å), which also act as bridging groups to the central copper(II) ion (Cu–O_mean = 1.926(4) Å). The cation is both helically twisted (dihedral angle N3?N7?N3′?N7′ = 20(1)°) and bent (angle Cu?Cu?Cu = 171(1)°). The copper(II) ions have tetrahedrally twisted square planar primary coordination, with perchlorate ion oxygen atoms weakly coordinated axially to the two terminal copper(II) ions, on opposite sides of the “plane” of the molecule, while the central copper(II) ion is weakly coordinated axially by a water molecule, with all axial Cu–O distances ca. 2.9 Å. One N·CH₂·CH₂·CH₂·O chelate ring for each protan²⁻ ligand shows conformational disorder and the perchlorate ions show rotational disorder. Partial hydrolysis of the protan²⁻ compound gave a compound [{Cu(μ-protan)}Cu(OH)₂](ClO₄)₂·0.5(EtOH) which has a dinuclear cation, with one copper(II) ion in square-planar coordination by tetradentate protan²⁻ and the other in square-planar coordination by the two bridging oxygen atoms of the protan²⁻ ligand and by two hydroxide ions, with Cu?Cu = 3.045(1) Å. With differing mole ratios of the same reactants compounds of the dinuclear cation [{Cu(μ-pta)}₂]²⁺ (ptaH = 3(3-hydroxypropyl)-1,3,5,7-tetraazabicyclo[3,3,1]nonane) are formed.     

In vitro and in vivo studies of N,N′-bis[2(2-pyridyl)-methyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide–copper(II) and rheumatoid arthritis

The thermodynamic equilibria of copper(II), zinc(II) and calcium(II) with N,N′-bis[2(2-pyridyl)-methyl]pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide (L1) have been studied at 25 °C and an ionic strength of 0.15 mol dm⁻³. Spectroscopic studies suggest metal ion complexation promotes deprotonation and coordination of the amide nitrogens resulting in overall tetragonal coordination of Cu²⁺. Blood–plasma modelling predicts that Cu(II) competes effectively against Zn(II) and Ca(II) for L1 in vivo. Octanol–water partition coefficient studies show that Cu(II)–L1 complexes are reasonably lipophilic. However, the CuL1H₋₂ species which predominates at the physiological pH of 7.4 has poor superoxide dismutase activity. Bio-distribution experiments showed activity accumulation and retention in the body of about 50% of the injected dose for the [⁶⁴Cu]Cu(II)–L1 complex after 24 h.     

Catalytic addition of alkenylzirconocene chloride to 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline and its enantioselective reaction

The addition of alkenylzirconocene chloride to 3,4-dihydroisoquinoline in the presence of a stoichiometric amount of acylating agent such as (Boc)₂O or ClCOOC₂H₅ was carried out in the presence of a catalytic amount of Cu(I) (10 mol %) to give an alkenylation-carbamation product. The enantioselective addition (56-75%ee) of the alkenylzirconocene chloride was also achieved under Cu(I)/chiral amine (10 mol %) conditions.     

Determination of bismuth, selenium and tellurium in nickel-based alloys and pure copper by flow-injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry—with ascorbic acid prereduction and cupferron chelation-extraction

Diverse matrix effects on the determination of bismuth, selenium and tellurium (μg g⁻¹) in nickel-based alloys and pure copper by flow-injection hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (FIAS-HGAAS) were investigated. Sodium tetrahydroborate was used as the reductant. The separation of analytes from copper matrix was mandatory while the analytes were successfully determined without being separated from the alloy matrix. Hydrochloric acid was effective in the prereduction of bismuth and selenium, however, it did not give any satisfactory result for tellurium in nickel-based alloys. In this work, 5% (w/v) ascorbic acid was proved effective for the prereduction of tellurium.Successful determination of tellurium in copper was achieved when N-nitroso-N-phenylhydroxylamine (cupferron) chelation-extraction was employed for the separation of tellurium from copper matrix. Cupferron chelation-extraction was performed in phosphate buffer (a mixture of 0.2 mol l⁻¹ sodium phosphate and 0.1 mol l⁻¹ citric acid). Lanthanum hydroxide coprecipitation at pH 10.0±0.5 was effective for bismuth and selenium. Standard reference materials of nickel-based alloys and pure copper were analyzed using the proposed methods. The linear range for the calibration curves were 0.30-15 and 0.20-10 ng ml⁻¹ for BiH₃ and H₂Se, respectively, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9995. For H₂Te, the linear range for the calibration curves was 0.50-12 ng ml⁻¹ with the correlation coefficient of 0.9994. Good agreement was obtained between experimental values and certified values. Satisfactory recovery ranged from 91±1 to 106±2% was obtained from five replicate determinations.     

Copper(II) complexes of N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones derived from pyridine-2-carbaldehyde: Crystal structure of a binuclear complex

Ten copper(II) complexes {[CuL¹Cl] (1), [CuL¹NO₃]₂ (2), [CuL¹N₃]₂ · 2/3H₂O (3), [CuL¹]₂(ClO₄)₂ · 2H₂O (4), [CuL²Cl]₂ (5), [CuL²N₃] (6), [Cu(HL²)SO₄]₂ · 4H₂O (7), [Cu(HL²)₂] (ClO₄)₂ · 1/2EtOH (8), [CuL³Cl]₂ (9), [CuL³NCS] · 1/2H₂O (10)} of three NNS donor thiosemicarbazone ligands {pyridine-2-carbaldehyde-N(4)-p-methoxyphenyl thiosemicarbazone [HL¹], pyridine-2-carbaldehyde-N(4)-2-phenethyl thiosemicarbazone [HL²] and pyridine-2-carbaldehyde N(4)-(methyl), N(4)-(phenyl) thiosemicarbazone [HL³]} were synthesized and physico-chemically characterized. The crystal structure of compound 9 has been determined by X-ray diffraction studies and is found that the dimer consists of two square pyramidal Cu(II) centers linked by two chlorine atoms.     

Syntheses,structures and hydrolytic properties of copper(II) complexes of asymmetrically N-functionalised 1,4,7-triazacyclononane ligands

A series of new asymmetrically N-substituted derivatives of the 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (tacn) macrocycle have been prepared from the common precursor 1,4,7-triazatricyclo[5.2.1.0^4,10]decane: 1-ethyl-4-isopropyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L1), 1-isopropyl-4-propyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L2), 1-(3-aminopropyl)-4-benzyl-7-isopropyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L3), 1-benzyl-4-isopropyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L4) and 1,4-bis(3-aminopropyl)-7-isopropyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L5). The corresponding monomeric copper(II) complexes were synthesised and were found to be of composition: [Cu(L1)Cl₂] · 1/2 H₂O (C1), [Cu(L4)Cl₂] · 4H₂O (C2), [Cu(L3)(MeCN)](ClO₄)₂ (C3), [Cu(L5)](ClO₄)₂ · MeCN · NaClO₄ (C4) and [Cu(L2)Cl₂] · 1/2 H₂O (C5). The X-ray crystal structures of each complex revealed a distorted square-pyramidal copper(II) geometry, with the nitrogen donors on the ligands occupying 3 (C1 and C2), 4 (C3) or 5 (C4) coordination sites on the Cu(II) centre. The metal complexes were tested for the ability to hydrolytically cleave phosphate esters at near physiological conditions, using the model phosphodiester, bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP). The observed rate constants for BNPP cleavage followed the order k_C1 ≈ k_C2 > k_C5 ? k_C3 > k_C4, confirming that tacn-type Cu(II) complexes efficiently accelerate phosphate ester hydrolysis by being able to bind phosphate esters and also form the nucleophile necessary to carry out intramolecular cleavage. Complexes C1 and C2, featuring asymmetrically disubstituted ligands, exhibited rate constants of the same order of magnitude as those reported for the Cu(II) complexes of symmetrically tri-N-alkylated tacn ligands (k ∼ 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹).     

Copper complexes with 1,10-phenanthrolines tethered to a cyclotriphosphazene platform

The synthesis of two ligands, L¹ and L², each containing two 2-oxy-1,10-phenanthroline moieties attached to the same phosphorus atom of a substituted cyclotriphosphazene ring via an oxy-bridge, but differing in substitution on the biphenyl capping groups, is described. The single-crystal X-ray structure of L¹ · 2CH₂Cl₂ shows an ordered structure in the lattice with channels, containing dichloromethane molecules, running parallel to the a-axis. The reactions of L¹ and L² with [Cu(MeCN)₄](PF₆) afford the dimetallic copper(I) derivatives, [(CuL¹)₂] (PF₆)₂ · CH₂Cl₂ and [(CuL²)₂](PF₆)₂. The single-crystal X-ray structure of the former complex shows that the L¹ ligands of the cation [(CuL¹)₂]²⁺ act as a bridges coordinating to the two copper(I) centres in a helical fashion. The copper atoms have distorted tetrahedral geometries with the interligand dihedral angle being 85°. With copper(II) chloride and copper(II) perchlorate, the monomeric copper(II) complexes, [CuL¹Cl]Cl · 2CH₂Cl₂, [CuL²Cl]Cl · CH₂Cl₂, [CuL¹(OMe)]PF₆ · 2H₂O, [CuL²(OMe)]PF₆ · 2H₂O, [CuL¹(OH₂)](ClO₄)₂ and [CuL²(OH₂)](ClO₄)₂ · H₂O are obtained. The single-crystal X-ray structure of [CuL¹Cl]Cl · 2CH₂Cl₂ shows the copper to be in a square-base pyramidal distorted trigonal-bipyramidal (SBPDTB) environment (τ = 0.57) with L¹ acting as a κ⁴N donor, coordinating via the four nitrogen atoms of the two tethered 1,10-phenanthrolines. In CH₃CN, this complex undergoes hydrolysis via the presence of adventitious water losing one oxyphenanthroline arm to form the centrosymmetric dimetallic species, [(CuL³Cl)₂] · 4CH₃CN · 3H₂O (L³ = [N₃P₃(biph)₂(ophen)O]⁻ where biph = 2,2′-dioxybiphenyl and O replaces an oxyphenanthroline and is attached to the phosphorus of the phosphazene ring). The two monomeric units, which are linked by bridging chlorine atoms, have a distorted square-based pyramidal geometry about the copper with the basal plane made by the ‘ON₂Cl’ ligand set. Spectroscopic (mass spectral, electronic and ESR) and magnetic moment data for the complexes are discussed.     

Cascade dicopper architectures of a dibenzodioxatetraazamacrocycle

The dibenzodioxatetraazamacrocycle [26]pbz₂N₄O₂ was characterised by single crystal X-ray diffraction and the protonation constants of this compound and the stability constants of its copper(II) and lead(II) complexes were determined by potentiometry in water at 298.2 K in 0.10 mol dm⁻³ in KNO₃. Mono- and dinuclear complexes were found for both metal ions, the dinuclear complexes being the main species in the 5–7.5 pH range for copper(II) and 7.5–8.5 for lead(II). As expected the values of the stability constants for the copper(II) complexes are lower than those for related macrocycles containing only nitrogen atoms. The presence of mono- and dinuclear copper complexes was also confirmed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. These results suggest that the symmetric macrocyclic cavity of [26]pbz₂N₄O₂ has enough space for the coordination of two metal ions. Additionally, NMR spectroscopy showed that the dinuclear complex of lead(II) has high symmetry. The equilibrium constants of the dinuclear copper(II) complexes and dicarboxylate anions (oxalate, malonate and succinate) were also determined in 0.10 mol dm⁻³ aqueous KNO₃ solution. Only species containing one anion, Cu₂H_hLA^(2+h), were found, strongly suggesting that the anion bridges the two copper(II) ions. The binding constants of the cascade species formed by [Cu₂[26]pbz₂N₄O₂(H₂O)_x]⁴⁺ with dicarboxylate anions decrease with the increase in length of the alkyl chain of the anion, a fact which was attributed to a higher conformational energy necessary for the rearrangement of the macrocycle to accommodate the larger anions bridging the two copper(II) centres. The variation of the magnetic susceptibility with temperature of [Cu₂(H₂[26]pbz₂N₄O₂)(oxa)₃] · 4H₂O and [Cu₂([26]pbz₂N₄O₂)(suc)Cl₂] were measured and the two complexes showed different behaviour.