Abstract The formation of complexes of a tripeptide analogue, salicylglycyl-L-alanine [HOC 6 H 4 C (O) NHCH 2 C (O) NHCH (CH 3) COOH, H 2 SalGly-L-Ala], was studied with Cu II, V IV O and VVO 2 in aqueous solution using pH-potentiometric and spectroscopic (UV/Vis, CD, EPR and 51 V NMR) techniques. The results demonstrated the ambidentate character of the ligand. The metal ion-induced deprotonation and subsequent coordination of the ...