Carbonyl compound dependent hydrolysis of mono-condensed Schiff bases: A trinuclear Schiff base complex and a mononuclear mixed-ligand ternary complex of copper(II)

Two Schiff bases, HL¹ and HL² have been prepared by the condensation of N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine (mpn) with salicylaldehyde and 1-benzoylacetone (Hbn) respectively. HL¹ on reaction with Cu(ClO₄)₂·6H₂O in methanol produced a trinuclear Cu^II complex, [(CuL¹)₃(μ₃-OH)](ClO₄)₂·H₂O·0.5CH₂Cl₂ (1) but HL² underwent hydrolysis under similar reaction conditions to result in a ternary Cu^II complex, [Cu(bn)(mpn)ClO₄]. Both complexes have been characterised by single-crystal X-ray analyses, IR and UV-Vis spectroscopy and electrochemical studies. The partial cubane core [Cu₃O₄] of 1 consists of a central μ₃-OH and three peripheral phenoxo bridges from the Schiff base. All three copper atoms of the trinuclear unit are five-coordinate with a distorted square-pyramidal geometry. The ternary complex 2 is mononuclear with the square-pyramidal Cu^II coordinated by a chelating bidentate diamine (mpn) and a benzoylacetonate (bn) moiety in the equatorial plane and one of the oxygen atoms of perchlorate in an axial position. The results show that the Schiff base (HL²) derived from 1-benzoylacetone is more prone to hydrolysis than that from salicylaldehyde (HL¹). Magnetic measurements of 1 have been performed in the 1.8-300 K temperature range. The experimental data clearly indicate antiferromagnetism in the complex. The best-fit parameters for complex 1 are g = 2.18(1) and J = −15.4(2) cm⁻¹.     

Synthesis, structure and DNA cleavage activity of two 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridyl manganese(II) complexes

Two new mononuclear Mn(II) complexes, Mn(dmbpy)₂(OCN)₂ (1) and Mn(dmbpy)₂(dca)₂ (2) (dmbpy = 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine, dca = dicyanamide), have been synthesized and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, and single crystal X-ray analysis. Both complexes have similar molecular structures. The coordination sphere of the Mn(II) ion in 1 or 2 is a seriously distorted octahedron formed by two dmbpy ligands and two OCN⁻ or dca anions in cis positions. For both complexes, the most striking feature is that the mononuclear molecules are linked together by plentiful weak C-H?N hydrogen bonds into a compact 3D supramolecular structure. DNA cleavage studies show that the complexes can promote plasmid DNA cleavage in the presence of H₂O₂ under physiological conditions, and their cleavage activities are obviously both pH value and complex concentration-dependent. The cleavage mechanism between the complexes and plasmid DNA is likely to involve hydroxyl radicals as reactive oxygen species.     

Two Cd(II) and Ni(II) complexes constructed with dicyanamide and picolinate ligands

Two new dianion metal-organic complexes {[Cd(pcl)(H₂O)₂]₂[Cd(pcl)₂(dca)₂]} (1) and [Ni(pcl)(dca)(H₂O)]₂ (2) (dca = dicyanamide, Hpcl = picolinic acid) have been synthesized and characterized by IR spectra and X-ray diffraction. In complex 1, the pcl⁻ ligand both acts as chelate and bridging coordination ligands, while in complex 2, which only acts as a chelate ligand. In both cases, μ-1, 5-dca ligands bridge the metal ions to form square-grid like [M(dca)₂]₂ dimers. In complex 1, four of the trinuclear second building units {[Cd(pcl)(H₂O)₂]₂[Cd(pcl)₂(dca)₂]} formed a honeycomb-like cavity, which further bridged by pcl⁻ and dca to give a 2D network. While in complex 2, a channel-like supramolecular structure is formed by the connection of numerous hydrogen-bond interactions and weak interactions among the dinuclear motifs. Thermally gravimetric analyses and differential thermal analyses indicate that the two complexes are thermal stable.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and structural characterization of a network oxide constructed from {Mo12O34(O3AsC6H5)4} clusters and {Cu(terpy)} subunits

The hydrothermal reaction of MoO₃, [Cu(CH₃CO₂)₂] · H₂O, 2,2^′:6^′,2″-terpyridine (terpy), H₂O₃AsC₆H₅, H₂O and H₂SO₄ yields aqua colored crystals of [{Cu(terpy)}₂Mo₁₂O₃₄(O₃AsC₆H₅)₄] · 2.25H₂O (1 · 2.25H₂O). The two-dimensional structure of 1 is constructed from {Mo₁₂O₃₄(O₃AsC₆H₅)₄}⁴⁻ clusters linked through {Cu(terpy)}²⁺ subunits. Each Cu(II) site exhibits {CuN₃O₂} coordination geometry and links two adjacent clusters. In turn, each cluster is associated with four Cu(II) sites through {MoO · Cu} interactions.     

A study on mono-, bis- and tris-N-functionalized 1,4,7-triazacyclononane with benzimidazolyl groups and their nickel(II) complexes

Three new ligands, 1-(benzimidazolyl-2-methyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane L¹, 1,4-bis(benzimidazolyl-2-methyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclonone L², and 1,4,7-tris-(benzimidazolyl-2-methyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclonane L³, were synthesized by a straightforward one-pot method. Their nickel(II) complexes , [NiL²CH₃CN](ClO₄)₂ · 2CH₃OH · H₂O (or [NiL²Cl] · ClO₄) and [Ni(H₋₂L³)] · H₂O were obtained and characterized by electrospray mass spectrum, ¹H NMR, CV and other physical methods. Their crystal structures were determined by X-ray analyses. The crystal structure of the nickel(II) complex of L¹ shows that two Ni(II) atoms are bridged by two Cl⁻ anions. A ferromagnetic exchange coupling and zero-field splitting effect exist in complex 1.     

A trinuclear copper(II) complex with 2,5-pyridine-dicarboxylato bridges - [Cu3(2,5-pydc)2(Me5dien)2(H2O)2(BF4)2] · H2O: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic properties

A trinuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu₃(2,5-pydc)₂(Me₅dien)₂(BF₄)₂(H₂O)₂] · H₂O 1, has been constructed from 2,5-pyridine-dicarboxylato bridges (2,5-pydc²⁻) and N,N,N′,N″,N″-pentamethyl-diethylenetriamine (Me₅dien) acting as a blocking ligand. The copper ions, within the centrosymmetric trinuclear cations, are connected by two 2,5-pydc²⁻ bridges, with an intramolecular Cu···Cu separation of 8.432 Å. The central copper ion exhibits an elongated octahedral geometry, with semicoordinated ions, while the terminal ones are pentacoordinated (distorted square-pyramidal geometry). The cryomagnetic investigation of 1 reveals an antiferromagnetic coupling of the copper(II) ions (J = −5.9 cm⁻¹, H = −JS_Cu1S_Cu2 − JS_Cu2S_Cu1a).     

Trinuclear copper(II) complexes of bis(acylhydrazone) ligands. Structural analysis and magnetic properties of a sulfato-bridged hexanuclear dimer

The synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the new symmetric, ligand bis(salicylaldehyde)methyliminodiacetylhydrazone (H₄MeImds) is reported. The reactions of H₄ MeImds with copper(II) chloride, nitrate and sulfate give trinuclear metal complexes of formula Cu₃(MeImds)Cl₂ · CHCl₃ · H₂O, Cu₃(MeImds)(NO₃)₂ · 2H₂O and Cu₃(MeImds)(SO₄) · 8H₂O; the trinuclear species are obtained in spite of the used metal:ligand molar ratio. The X-ray crystal structure of [Cu₃(MeImds)(SO₄)(H₂O)₃] · 5H₂O is determined; it consists of linear units, with the nonadentate ligand bound to three copper ions. The trimetallic units are bridged via sulfate anions to give hexanuclear dimers with an imposed centre of symmetry. The magnetic properties of [Cu₃(MeImds)(SO₄)(H₂O)₃] · 5H₂O are characterized by a significant antiferromagnetic coupling within the trimetallic units and by a weak antiferromagnetic coupling between them. The analogous trinuclear copper(II) complexes Cu₃(HImds)Cl₂ · H₂O and Cu₃(HImds)(SO₄) · 4H₂O (H₅Imds, bis(salicylaldehyde)iminodiacetylhydrazone) were also prepared and spectroscopically characterized.     

Synthesis, structures and magnetic properties of oxamido-bridged trinuclear Cu(II)-Mn(II)-Cu(II) complexes

Based on self-assembly of the dissymmetrical mononuclear entity CuL(CH₃OH) [H₂L = (E)-N¹-(2-((2-aminocyclohexydiimino)(phenyl)methyl)-4-chlorophenyl)-N²-(2-benzyl-4-chlorophenyl)oxalamide] with Mn(II), two trinuclear complexes were prepared. They are of the formula [(LCuN₃)₂Mn(CH₃OH)₂] · 2CH₃OH · 2H₂O (1) and [(LCuSCN)₂Mn(H₂O)₂] · 4CH₃OH (2). Their magnetic properties were studied by susceptibility versus temperature measurement, the best fitting of the experimental data led to J = −14.40 cm⁻¹ for 1 and J = −15.48 cm⁻¹ for 2. Hydrogen bonds help complex 1 to produce a novel S type one-dimensional chain-like supramolecular structure. In complex 2, Cl?Cl interaction also results in the formation of a one-dimensional structure.     

Magnetic and luminescence properties of Cu(II), Cu(II)4O4 core, and Cd(II) mixed-ligand metal-organic frameworks constructed from 1,2-bis(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)ethane and benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylate

The hydrothermal reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂ · 3H₂O, Cu(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O, or CdSO₄ · 8/3H₂O with benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid (H₃btc) and 1,2-bis(1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)ethane (btre) produced the mixed-ligand coordination polymers and networks (MOFs) ¹_∞{[Cu(H₂btc)₂(μ-btre)]} (1), ³_∞{[Cu₄(μ₅-btc)₂(μ₃-OH)₂(μ₄-btre)] · 2H₂O} (2), and ³_∞{[Cd₃(μ₆-btc)₂(μ₄-btre)] · H₂O} (3). The centrosymmetric tetranuclear, chair-shaped or stepped-cubane Cu₄O₄ metal building unit in 2 has three different Cu contacts, each involving more than one bridging group. A quasi-butterfly magnetostructural model shows dominant antiferromagnetic interactions in this Cu₄ unit with three different magnetic exchange pathways with 2J₁ = 258, 2J₂ = −416, and 2J₃ = 484 cm⁻¹ from the magnetic susceptibility measurement between 1.9 and 300 K. For this Cu₄O₄ unit the Eigenvalues associated with the zero field spin Hamiltonian were calculated by solving the 16 × 16 matrix in order to obtain here the numerical expression for the magnetic susceptibility. The cadmium-btre framework 3, with bridged Cd strands, shows a strong bluish fluorescence at 421 nm upon excitation at 317 nm (not seen in the free btre ligand).     

Organic-inorganic hybrid materials constructed from Cu(II)-organonitrogen coordination complex cations and oxovanadium-arsonate subunits

The hydrothermal reactions of NH₄VO₃, Cu(NO₃)₂·H₂O or Cu(CH₃CO₂)₂·H₂O As₂O₅ and the appropriate organonitrogen ligand in the presence of HF as mineralizer yield a series of bimetallic oxides of the Cu/V/O/As family. The materials [Cu(bpy)(VO₂)(AsO₄)] (1) and [Cu(bpy)VO₂(OH)(AsO₄H)]·H₂O (2·H₂O) are one-dimensional (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). While phase 1 is constructed from chains decorated by {Cu(bpy)}²⁺ groups, compound 2 consists of {V₂O₄(OH)₂(AsO₄H)₂}²⁻ clusters linked through {Cu(bpy)}²⁺ subunits. In contrast, the structure of [Cu₂(bpyrm)(VO₂)₂(AsO₄)₂]·H₂O (3·H₂O) is three-dimensional, consisting of layers, linked through {Cu₂(bpyrm)}⁴⁺ rods (bpyrm = bipyrimidine).     

Assisted self-association of dicyanoaurate, [Au(CN)2], and dicyanoargentate, [Ag(CN)2], through hydrogen bonding to metal ammonia complexes

The salts - yellow [Cr(NH₃)₆][Ag(CN)₂]₃ · 2H₂O, red [Co(NH₃)₆][Ag(CN)₂]₃ · 2H₂O, red [Co(NH₃)₆][Au(CN)₂]₃ · 2H₂O, pale yellow [Ru(NH₃)₆][Ag(CN)₂]₃ · 2H₂O, yellow K[Cr(NH₃)₆]₂[Au(CN)₂]₇ · 4H₂O, and colorless [(μ²-NH₂)₂Pt₂(NH₃)₁₀][Au(CN)₂]₆ · 5.5{OS(CH₃)₂} · 0.5H₂O - have been prepared by evaporation of aqueous solutions of potassium dicyanoargenate or potassium dicyanoaurate and salts of the appropriate cations. Hydrogen bonding between the cations and the cyano groups of the anions facilitates the formation of structures with strong metallophilic interactions between the anions. Thus, the [Au(CN)₂]⁻ or [Ag(CN)₂]⁻ ions self-associate into linear trimers in the isostructural set of crystals, [Cr(NH₃)₆][Ag(CN)₂]₃ · 2H₂O (Ag?Ag distance; 3.1610(4) Å), [Co(NH₃)₆][Ag(CN)₂]₃ · 2H₂O (Ag?Ag distance; 3.1557(2) Å), [Co(NH₃)₆][Au(CN)₂]₃ · 2H₂O (Au?Au distance; 3.0939(4) Å), and [Ru(NH₃)₆][Ag(CN)₂]₃ · 2H₂O (Ag?Ag distance; 3.1584(5) Å). Crystalline [(μ²-NH₂)₂Pt₂(NH₃)₁₀][Au(CN)₂]₆ · 5.5{OS(CH₃)₂} · 0.5H₂O also contains nearly linear trimers of the dicyanoaurate ion. Yellow crystals of K[Cr(NH₃)₆]₂[Au(CN)₂]₇ · 4H₂O contain a centrosymmetric, bent chain of seven dicyanoaurate ions with Au?Au separations of 3.1806(3), 3.2584(4), and 3.1294(4) Å.     

Coordination polymers built from Cu(II) and pyrazine-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylate or pyridine-2,4,6-tricarboxylate: Structural and magnetic studies

Room temperature reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O and pyrazine-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic acid (ptecH₄) in the presence of pyridine (py) in water-methanol (1:1) mixture results in the formation of {[Cu₂(ptec) · (py)₂ · (H₂O)₃] · 4H₂O}_n (1). With pyridine-2,4,6-tricarboxylic acid (pytcH₃) and Cu(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, crystals of {[Cu(pytc)] · 1/2[Cu(H₂O)₆] · H₂O}_n (2) could be obtained hydrothermally at 180 °C. The structure of 1 consists of 2D polymeric sheets. These sheets are stacked on top of one another due to strong C-H?π interactions forming an overall 3D structure. The structure of 2, on the other hand, consists of twin-chain coordination polymers. The void spaces between two polymeric chains are occupied by [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺ ions which are H-bonded to the polymeric chains. The variable temperature magnetic measurements for 1 and 2 show weak antiferromagnetic interaction between Cu(II) centers. The EPR spectra of the compounds are consistent with their structures.     

A new blue luminescent dichlorido-bridged dinuclear copper(II) complex with DNA binding and cytotoxic activities: Synthesis, structure and DFT studies

A blue luminescent dichlorido-bridged dinuclear copper(II) (S = 1/2) complex, [Cu^II₂(HL)₂(μ-Cl)₂]·2H₂O, 1a was synthesized with the 1:1 reaction of the acyclic tridentate salicylaldehyde 2-pyridyl hydrazone ligand, HL, 1. The complex 1a displays multiple bands in the visible region (400-470 nm). The association constant (K_ass, UV-Vis) was found to be 1.186 × 10⁴ for 1a at 298 K. The copper(II)-copper(III) oxidation potential lies near 0.32 V versus Ag/AgCl electrode. On excitation at 390 nm, the ligand 1 strongly emits at 444 nm due to an intraligand ¹(π-π^∗) transition. Upon complexation with copper(II) the emission peak is slightly red shifted (λ_ex 390 nm, λ_em 450 nm, F/F₀ 0.81) with little quenching. Molecular structure of 1a (Cu···Cu 3.523 Å) has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. DFT and TDDFT calculations strongly support the spectral behavior of the ligand and the complex. The complex 1a exhibits a strong interaction towards DNA as revealed from the K_b (intrinsic binding constant) 2.05 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ and K_sv (Stern-Volmer quenching constant) 2.47 values. The complex exhibits cytotoxic effect and the LD₅₀ value for HeLa cells was calculated as 5.44 μM at which the cell cycle was arrested at G₂/M phase.     

Formation of a supramolecular ladder using dinuclear dicyanamide bridged Cu(II) species: Synthesis, crystal structure and magnetic property

The reaction of Cu(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O with bis(3-aminopropyl)methylamine and sodium dicyanamide in aqueous medium results in the formation of a dimeric dicyanamide complex of Cu(II), [Cu₂(medpt)₂(dca)₂](ClO₄)₂. The single crystal X-ray structure reveals that the dinuclear entities are extended to form a supramolecular 1D ladder by H-bonding. Each dinuclear entity is joined to the adjacent unit via the perchlorate anion. Variable temperature magnetic study was performed and the best-fit parameters are J = −1.20 ± 0.02 cm⁻¹, g = 2.08 ± 0.01 with R = 2 × 10⁻⁵. These clearly indicate the antiferromagnetic interaction between the Cu(II) center.     

Zinc(II) and copper(II) 1D coordination polymeric complexes of a reduced Schiff base ligand

The reaction of Zn(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O and Cu(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O with H₃Sas (H₃Sas = N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-L-aspartic acid in water afforded the complexes [Zn₆(Sas)₄(H₂O)₈]·5H₂O (1) and [Cu(HSas)(H₂O)] (2), respectively, which were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, thermogravimetry and single-crystal X-ray crystallography. In 1, the pentanuclear clusters formed by four H₃Sas ligands and five Zn(II) metal ions are bridged by the “[Zn(H₂O)₄]²⁺” cations to form 1D polymeric chains. While in 2, the mononuclear [Cu(HSas)(H₂O)] repeating units form a 1D zigzag chain and further extended by strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds to form a 2D sheet. The different coordination geometries of Cu(II) and Zn(II) show significant influence on the polymeric structures.     

New yttrium(III) and copper(II) coordination polymers with partially protonated cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexacarboxylato ligands: Synthesis, crystal structures and properties

Two coordination polymers, [Y(H₂O)₄(H₃chhc)]·6H₂O (1) and [Cu₅(H₂O)₁₀(Hchhc)₂]·4H₂O (2) with H₆chhc = cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexacarboxylic acid) represent rare examples of metal complexes with partially protonated cyclohexane-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexacarboxylato ligands. The [Y(H₂O)₄]³⁺ units in 1 are interlinked by the triprotonated (H₃chhc)³⁻ anions in a η⁵μ₄ bridging mode to form 2D (4³)₂(4⁶·6⁶·8³) topological networks, which are stacked along [0 1 0] direction in ···ABAB··· fashion with the lattice H₂O molecules sandwiched between layers. The pentameric [Cu₅(H₂O)₁₀]¹⁰⁺ units in 2 are bridged by monoprotonated (Hchhc)⁵⁻ anions in a η⁸μ₆ fashion to generate a 3D MOF of an unprecendented (4³)(4⁵·6⁷·8³) topology with the lattice H₂O molecules in channels. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data of 2 could be modeled to a combination of a linear chain of equally-spaced Cu(II) ions (J₁ = 1.86 cm⁻¹) with an isosceles triangular Cu₃ unit (J₂ = 5.86 cm⁻¹).     

Dicopper(II) complexes showing DNA hydrolase activity and monomeric adduct formation with bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate

Ferromagnetic dicopper(II) complexes [Cu₂(μ-O₂CCH₃)(μ-OH)(L)₂(μ-L¹)](PF₆)₂, where L = 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), L¹ = H₂O in 1 and L = dipyrido[3,2-d:2′,3′-f]quinoxaline (dpq), L¹ = CH₃CN in 2, are prepared and structurally characterized. Crystals of 1 and 2 belong to the monoclinic space group of P2₁/n and P2₁/m, respectively. The copper(II) centers display distorted square-pyramidal geometry having a phenanthroline base and two oxygen atoms of the bridging hydroxo and acetate group in the basal plane. The fifth coordination site has weak axially bound bridging solvent molecule H₂O in 1 and CH₃CN in 2. The Cu···Cu distances are 3.034 and 3.046 Å in 1 and 2, respectively. The complexes show efficient hydrolytic cleavage of supercoiled pUC19 DNA as evidenced from the mechanistic studies that include T4 DNA ligase experiments. The binuclear complexes form monomeric copper(II) adducts [Cu(L)₂(BNPP)](PF₆) (L = phen, 3; dpq, 4) with bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) as a model phosphodiester. The crystal structures of 3 and 4 reveal distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry in which BNPP binds through the oxygen atom of the phosphate. The kinetic data of the DNA cleavage reactions of the binuclear complexes under pseudo- and true-Michaelis-Menten conditions indicate remarkable enhancement in the DNA hydrolysis rate in comparison to the control data.     

A 3-D (3,5)-connected Cd coordination framework with unique twofold interpenetrating (4·6)(4·6·8) network topology

Assembly of N,N′-bis(4-picolinoyl)hydrazine (H₂L) with cadmium nitrate in the presence of dicyanamide anion (dca) affords a new coordination polymer {[Cd(HL)(dca)] · (H₂O)_0.5}_n (1), in which the [Cd(HL)]_n layers are extended by dca bridges to result in a three-dimensional (3-D) coordination framework. The network structure of 1 has unusual (3,5)-connectivity and represents a new type of (4·6²)(4·6⁶·8³) topology. Two such identical and complementary networks are entangled to generate a twofold parallel interpenetrating supramolecular lattice.     

Solution properties of the nickel(II,III) and copper(II,III) complexes of trans-dioxocyclam (trans-dioxocyclam=5,12-dioxo-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) and the X-ray crystal structure of the N-rac-isomer of the nickel(II) complex

The crystal and molecular structures of the N-rac-isomer of the nickel(II) complex of 14-membered amide-containing macrocycle [NiL¹] · 4H₂O (H₂L¹=5,12-dioxo-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) have been determined. Two deprotonated amide and two amine donors co-ordinate to the nickel(II) in nearly square planar manner with Ni-N_amine bonds longer than Ni-N_amide ones (1.930 vs. 1.898 Å). Water molecules do not co-ordinate and form hydrogen bond bridges between macrocyclic units in the crystal lattice. The analysis of ¹H NMR data confirmed that the solid-state conformation of the macrocycle in N-rac[NiL¹] is retained in aqueous solution though equilibrated with some amount of N-meso isomer. The comparison of the spectroscopic characteristics of the M(II) and M(III) complexes and the redox potentials of M(III/II) couples (M=Ni and Cu) for ML¹ with those for ML²(H₂L²=5,7-dioxo-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane) revealed a rather small influence of the trans- vs. cis-arrangement of amide donors in co-ordination spheres of the metal ions.     

Equilibrium and structural studies on Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with N-(2-benzimidazolyl)methyliminodiacetic acid: crystal structures of Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes

Combined pH-metric, UV-Vis, ¹H NMR and EPR spectral investigations on the complex formation of M(II) ions (M=Co, Ni, Cu and Zn) with N-(2-benzimidazolyl)methyliminodiacetic acid (H₂bzimida, hereafter H₂L) in aqueous solution at a fixed ionic strength, I=10⁻¹ mol dm⁻³, at 25 ± 1 °C indicate the formation of M(L), M(H₋₁L)⁻ and M₂(H₋₁L)⁺ complexes. Proton-ligand and metal-ligand constants and the complex formation equilibria have been elucidated. Solid complexes, [M(L)(H₂O)₂] · nH₂O (n=1 for M = Co and Zn, n=2 for M = Ni) and {Cu (μ-L) · 4H₂O}_n, have been isolated and characterized by elemental analysis, spectral, conductance and magnetic measurements and thermal studies. Structures of [Ni(L)(H₂O)₂] · 2H₂O and {Cu(μ-L) · 4H₂O}_n have been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The nickel(II) complex exists in a distorted octahedral environment in which the metal ion is coordinated by the two carboxylate O atoms, the amino-N atom of the iminodiacetate moiety and the pyridine type N-atom of the benzimidazole moiety. Two aqua O atoms function as fifth and sixth donor atoms. The copper(II) complex is made up of interpenetrating polymeric chains of antiferromagnetically coupled Cu(II) ions linked by carboxylato bridges in syn-anti (apical-equatorial) bonding mode and stabilized via interchain hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interactions.