Thirteen crystal structures of copper(II) complexes with a series of dipicolylamine (DPA)‐derived ligands, N‐(2‐methoxyethyl)‐N,N‐bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (L1), N‐[2‐(2‐hydroxyethyloxy)ethyl]‐N,N‐bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (L2) and N‐(3‐methoxypropyl)‐N,N‐bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)amine (L3), have been determined and the factors that control the coordination of the ether‐oxygen atom of these ligands to the copper centre are discussed. Complexes that have +1 or +2 charges exhibit coordination of the ether‐oxygen atom, whereas neutral complexes in which two anions are bound to the copper(II) centre tend to lose the oxygen coordination. Upon chelation of the oxygen atom, L3 forms a six‐membered chelate ring with respect to the 3‐aminopropyl ether moiety whereas L1 and L2 form a five‐membered chelate. This difference, especially in the nitrate and bromide complexes, determines whether the ether‐oxygen atom chelates to the metal centre to give a monocationic complex, or the second anion coordinates to the metal centre to form the ether‐free, neutral complex. The terminal anchor hydroxy group of L2 facilitates the ether‐oxygen coordination via a hydrogen bond interaction to the donor atom located trans to the aliphatic nitrogen atom in the basal plane. (© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2007)