Synthesis and Characterization of New Tetraaza Macrocycles Bearing Two or Four N-Methoxyethyl Pendant Arms and Their Copper(II) and/or Nickel(II) Complexes

This work shows that both L2 and L3 bearing two and four N-$(CH_2)_2OCH_3$ groups, respectively, can be prepared selectively by the reaction of $L^1$ with 1-bromo-2-methoxyethane. The di-N-substituted macrocycle $L^2$ readily forms its copper(II) and nickel(II) complexes. The N-$(CH_2)_2OCH_3$ groups in $[CuL^2]^{2+}$ are coordinated to the metal ion, whereas those in $[NiL^2]^{2+}$ are not involved in coordination. Interestingly, $L^3$ reacts with $Cu^{2+}$ ion to form $[Cu(HL^3)]^{3+}$, in which one tertiary amino group is not involved in coordination.