A new bis tridentate ligand 2,2'-bipyridine-3,3'-[2-pyridinecarboxamide] H2L1 Which can bind transition metal ions has been synthesized via the condensation of 3,3'-diamino-2,2'-bipyridine together with 2-pyridine carbonyl chloride. Two copper(II) coordination compounds have been prepared and characterized: [Cu-2(L-1)(hfac)(2)]center dot 3CH(3)CN center dot H2O (1) and [Cu-2(L-1)Cl-2]center dot CH3CN (2). The single-crystal X-ray structures reveal that complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P (1) over bar, with the unit cell parameters a = 12.7185(6) angstrom, b = 17.3792(9) angstrom, c = 19.4696(8) angstrom, alpha = 110.827(2)degrees, beta = 99.890(3)degrees, gamma = 97.966(3)degrees, V = 3868.3(3) angstrom(3), Z = 4, R = 0.0321 and R-W = 0.0826. Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P-21/n with the unit cell parameters a = 12.8622(12) angstrom, b = 9.6100(10) angstrom, c = 19.897(2) angstrom, beta = 102.027(3)degrees, V = 2405.3(4) angstrom(3), Z = 4, R = 0.0409 and R-W = 0.1005. In both complexes the ligand is in the dianionic form and coordinates the divalent Cull ions via one amido and two pyridine nitrogen donor atoms. In 1, the coordination geometry around both Cull ions is best described as distorted trigonal bipyramidal where the remaining two coordination sites are satisfied by hexafluoroacetylaceton ate counterions. In 2 both Cull ions adopt a (4 + 1) distorted square pyramidal geometry. One copper forms a longer apical bond to an adjacent carbonyl oxygen atom, whereas the second copper is chelated to a neighboring Cu-Cl chloride ion to afford a mu-Cl-bridged dimerized [Cu-2(L-1)Cl-2](2) complex. The magnetic susceptibility data for 1 (2-270 K), reveal the occurrence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions between the Cull ions. In contrast, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements for 2 reveal more complex magnetic properties, with the presence of a weak antiferromagnetic exchange (J = -10.1 K) between the copper ions in each dinuclear copper complex and a stronger ferromagnetic exchange interaction (J = 32.9 K) between the Cull ions of the Cu(mu-Cl)(2)Cu climeric bridging units.