In order to study the physicochemical properties of Zn II and Cd II complexes, complexes with ''simple'' supporting ligands were synthesized. Various coordination types were obtained, such as ZnN 2 S 2 in [Zn(SCH 2 CF 3 ) 2 (L)] (L = sp, ( ) )-sparteine or hp, homopiperazine), ZnN 2 O 2 in [Zn(OCH(CF 3 ) 2 ) 2 (sp)], ZnO 2 S 2 in (Et 4 N) 2 [Zn(OCH 2 (CF 2 ) 3 CH 2 O)(SCH 2 CF 3 ) 2 ], ZnN 3 S in [Zn(SR)(tacn iPr )](ClO 4 ) (tacn iPr = 1,4,7-triisopropyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane; SR = 1-adamantanethiolate, SC 10 H 15 , 1-cyclohexanethiolate, SC 6 H 11 , or SCH 2 CF 3 ), CdN 3 S in [Cd(SC 10 H 15 )(tacn iPr )](ClO 4 ) and [Cd 3 (SCH 2 CF 3 ) 6 (tacn iPr ) 2 ]. The far-i.r., Raman and u.v.-vis. absorption spectra of the complexes are discussed, and the crystal structures of two of the complexes were determined.