The metal complexation properties of the naturally occurring Maillard reaction product isomaltol HL2 are investigated by measurement of its stability constants with copper(II), zinc(II), and iron(III) using potentiometric pH titrations in water, by structural and magnetic characterization of its crystalline complex, [Cu(L-2)(2)]center dot 8H(2)O, and by density functional theory calculations. Strong complexation is observed to form the bis(isomaltolato)copper(II) complex incorporating copper in a typical (pseudo-)square-planar geometry. In the solid state, extensive intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonding involving all three oxygen functions per ligand assembles the complexes into ribbons that interact to form two-dimensional arrays; further hydrogen bonds and pi interactions between the furan moiety of the anionic ligands and adjacent copper(II) centers connect the complexes in the third dimension, leading to a compact polymeric three-dimensional (3D) arrangement. The latter interactions involving copper(II), which represent an underappreciated aspect of copper(II) chemistry, are compared to similar interactions present in other copper(II) 3D structures showing interactions with benzene molecules; the results indicate that dispersion forces dominate in the pi system to chelated copper(II) ion interactions.