The sulfonated bipyridine derivative disodium 6,6Ј-bis-(sulfonatomethyl)-2,2Ј-bipyridine [Na 2 (smbipy)] was synthesized, and its complexation behaviour towards divalent 3d metals in aqueous solution was explored. The complexes of late 3d metals [M(smbipy)(H 2 O) 2 ]·H 2 O (M = Co, Ni, Zn) and [Cu(smbipy)(H 2 O)] are sparingly soluble in water, and their crystal structures show fourfold equatorial coordination (κ 4 N,NЈ,O,OЈ) of the smbipy ligand. Ammonia-rich solutions of the Ni II and Cu II aqua complexes yield the decomplexation [a] 5838 products [Ni(NH 3 ) 6 ](smbipy), [Ni(NH 3 ) 5 (H 2 O)](smbipy) and [Cu(NH 3 ) 4 ](smbipy)·2H 2 O. Buffered solutions with a reduced ammonia content lead to [Ni(smbipy)(NH 3 ) 2 ] and [Cu(smbipy)(NH 3 ) 3 ]·2H 2 O, and the latter shows twofold coordination of the smbipy ligand through the nitrogen atoms only (κ 2 N,NЈ). When nearly quantitative amounts of ammonia are applied, two closely related complexes with the core motif [(smbipy)Cu(μ-OH) 2 Cu] form. Crystal structures of all complexes were obtained, and their features are discussed. Scheme 1. Examples of sulfonated ligands that do not show significant sulfonate binding towards metal centres.