A variety of structurally
different complexes of the isopropyl-bis(2-picolyl)amine
(
i
Pr-bpa) ligand were prepared
with ZnA2 and CuA2 salts (A = Br–, Br–/PF6
–, BF4
–/F–, ClO4
–). The choice of different counterion affected the
stoichiometry, coordination number, geometry, and formation of geometrical
isomers. Crystal structures of four Zn(II) complexes, namely, two
monomers (
mer
-[Zn(
i
Pr-bpa)Br
2
] and
fac
-[Zn(
i
Pr-bpa)Br
2
]), one F–-bridged dimer ([Zn
2
(μ-F)
2
(
i
Pr-bpa)
2
](BF
4
)
2
), and one ML
2
complex ([Zn(
i
Pr-bpa)
2
](ClO
4
)
2
) were determined, and their solution structures were
studied by NMR spectroscopy. For the ML
2
complex, relative stabilities of geometrical isomers were
determined using density functional theory calculations. For Cu(II)
complexes, five crystal structures were determined, namely, two monomers
([Cu(
i
Pr-bpa)Br
2
] and [Cu(
i
Pr-bpa)(ClO
4
)
2
(H
2
O)]), a Br–-bridged
dimer ([Cu
2
(μ-Br)(Br)
2
(
i
Pr-bpa)
2
](PF
6
)), a F–-bridged
coordination polymer ([Cu(μ-F)(
i
Pr-bpa)]
n
(BF
4
)
n
× nCH
3
OH), and a cyclic,
CO3
2–-bridged trimer ([Cu
3
(tri-μ-CO
3
)(ClO
4
)
3
(
i
Pr-bpa)
3
](ClO
4
)). The different crystallographic
structures of Cu(II) complexes are reflected in their different magnetic
properties investigated by electron spin resonance spectroscopy and
magnetic susceptibility measurements.