Syntheses, crystal structures, and properties of Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes with an asymmetric tripodal ligand

[Cu2L2](ClO4)2 (1) and [Zn2L2](ClO4)2 (2) (HL?=?2-[bis(3-aminopropyl)amino]propanol) have been synthesized and characterized. X-ray crystallography analyses show that both are dinuclear with bis-mu-alkoxy-bridged structures. Their molecular structures are centro-symmetric. Each metal adopts a trigonal bipyramidal coordination. Cyclic voltammetry indicates that 1 undergoes two irreversible redox processes with big potential differences (E pa-E pc) and ratio of i pa/i pc, while only one reduction peak is observed in 2. Magnetic susceptibility shows that there is a strong antiferromagnetic interaction (J?=?-69.4(4)?cm-1) between the two copper(II) centers in 1. Hydrolysis activities toward 4-nitrophenyl acetate of the two complexes have been investigated and second-order rate constants of 1 and 2 are (4.3?+/-?0.3)?X?10-2 and (3.1?+/-?0.2)?X?10-2 M-1s-1 in 10% (v/v) CH3CN aqueous solution at 25?degrees C.