A new bis tridentate ligand 2,2'-bipyridine-3,3'-[2-pyridinecarboxamide] H(2)L(1) 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)].3CH(3)CN.H(2)O (1) and [Cu(2)(L(1))Cl(2)].CH(3)CN (2). The single-crystal X-ray structures reveal that complex 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1, with the unit cell parameters a = 12.7185(6) A, b = 17.3792(9) A, c = 19.4696(8) A, alpha = 110.827(2) degrees, beta = 99.890(3) degrees, gamma = 97.966(3) degrees, V = 3868.3(3) A3, Z = 4, R = 0.0321 and R(w) = 0.0826. Complex 2 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with the unit cell parameters a = 12.8622(12) A, b = 9.6100(10) A, c = 19.897(2) A, beta = 102.027(3) degrees, V = 2405.3(4) A(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 Cu(II) ions via one amido and two pyridine nitrogen donor atoms. In 1, the coordination geometry around both Cu(II) ions is best described as distorted trigonal bipyramidal where the remaining two coordination sites are satisfied by hexafluoroacetylacetonate counterions. In 2 both Cu(II )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 Cu(II) 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 Cu(II) ions of the Cu(mu-Cl)(2)Cu dimeric bridging units.