Copper( II ) and Nickel( II ) Complexes of N,N‐Bis(2‐hydroxyethyl)octamethyl‐1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecane

Reaction of ethylene oxide with the 1,4,8,11‐tetraazacyclotetradecanes Me8[14]ane LB (diaxial‐diequatorial with respect to the methyl substituents at the secondary ring carbons) and LC (axial‐triequatorial) yielded the N4,N11‐disubstituted 2‐hydroxyethyl (Y) derivatives LBY (diaxial‐diequatorial) and LAY (all‐equatorial). These new ligands interact with Cu(ClO4)2 to produce octahedral blue‐violet [CuLBY][ClO4]2 and deep‐blue [CuLAY][ClO4]2, with the hydroxyl groups of the −CH2−CH2−OH arms in axial positions. Reaction of LBY with nickel(II) acetate and subsequent addition of Li(ClO4) yielded square‐planar yellow [NiLBY][ClO4]2. Characterisation has been carried out on the basis of analytical, spectroscopic, conductometric and magneto‐chemical data. The structures of LBY and [CuLAY][ClO4]2 have been confirmed by X‐ray diffraction analyses. The antifungal and antibacterial activities of these compounds have been studied against some phytopathogenic fungi and bacteria. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2004)