Template Synthesis and Characterization of Copper(II) Complexes of a Polyaza Non-Macrocyclic or a Bis(macrocyclic) Ligand

New copper(Ⅱ) complex of the pentaaza non-macrocyclic ligand 1-(2-aminoethyl)-3-(N-{2-aminoethyl}aminomethyl)-1,3-diazacyclohexane (2) and a dinuclear copper(Ⅱ) compex of the bis(macrocyclic) ligand 3, in which two 1,5,8,10,12,15-hexaazabicyclo[11.3.11.5]heptadecane subunits are linked together by an ethylene chain through the uncoordinated nitrogen (N10) atoms, have been prepared selectively by the reaction of the metal ion, 1,4,8-triazaoctane, ethylenediamine, and formaldehyde. The dinuclear complex [Cu2(3)]4+ has been also prepared by the reaction of [Cu(2)]2+ with ethylenediamine and formaldehyde. The reaction products largely depend on the molar ratio of the reactants employed. The mononuclear complex or each macrocyclic subunit of the dinuclear complex contains one 1,3-diazacyclohexane ring and has a square-planar geometry with a 5-6-5 or 5-6-5-6 chelate ring sequence. In acidic solution, the copper(Ⅱ) complex of 2 dissociates more slowly than those of other related non-cyclic polyamines.