Two new copper(II) complexes with the composition [Cu(L)(btc(-))(2)] (1) and [Cu(L)(btc(2-))](n) (2), where btc = 1,2,4,5-benzenetetracarboxylic acid, L=3,10-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,3,5,8,10,12-hexaazacyclotetradecane, have been synthesized and structurally characterized by a combination of analytical, spectroscopic, and crystallographic methods. The structure of 1 is made up of a macrocyclic copper(II) cation [Cu(L)](2+) and btc(-) anions. The copper(II) coordination geometry in 1 exhibits an axially elongated octahedron with four nitrogen atoms from the macrocycle and two carbonyl oxygen atoms from the btc(-) ligands. The structure of 2 shows a 1D coordination polymer, in which the copper(II) ions are bridged by the btc(2-) anions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.