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 Me 8 [14]ane L B (diaxial‐diequatorial with respect to the methyl substituents at the secondary ring carbons) and L C (axial‐triequatorial) yielded the N4,N11‐disubstituted 2‐hydroxyethyl (Y) derivatives L BY (diaxial‐diequatorial) and L AY (all‐equatorial). These new ligands interact with Cu(ClO 4 ) 2 to produce octahedral blue‐violet [CuL BY ][ClO 4 ] 2 and deep‐blue [CuL AY ][ClO 4 ] 2 , with the hydroxyl groups of the −CH 2 −CH 2 −OH arms in axial positions. Reaction of L BY with nickel( II ) acetate and subsequent addition of Li(ClO 4 ) yielded square‐planar yellow [NiL BY ][ClO 4 ] 2 . Characterisation has been carried out on the basis of analytical, spectroscopic, conductometric and magneto‐chemical data. The structures of L BY and [CuL AY ][ClO 4 ] 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)