Novel NNNN-donor mu-bis(bidentate) tetraaza acyclic Schiff base ligands with different substituents (CF3, N(CH3)(2) or OH groups) were synthesized by the condensation reaction of triethylenetetramine with 4-substituted benzaldehydes. Triethylenetetramine tris(4-trifluoromethylbenzylidene) (TTFMB), triethylenetetramine tris(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene) (TTDMB) and triethylenetetramine tris(2,4-dihydroxybenzylidene) (TTDHB) were formed as N-4 donor ligands. The formation of a five-membered imidazolidine ring from the ethylenediamine backbone as a spacer-cumbridging unit gives rise to a new type of imidazolidine ligand. The structure of the TTFMB and TTDMB were determined by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The synthesized ligands have been characterized on the basis of the results of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and spectroscopic studies viz. FT-IR spectroscopy (FT-IR), mass spectroscopy (MS) and UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV-Vis). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.