The complexing ability towards Ni2+ and Cu2+ of the potentially tridentate ligands HOC (CF3) 2CH2C (O) CH2C (CF3) 2OH, HOC (CF3) 2CH2CH (OH) CH2C (CF3) 2OH, and HOC (CF3) 2CH2CH2N: C (CH3) CH2C (CF3) 2OH has been studied. The first two act as bidentate ligands, uninegative or dinegative according to the extent of ionization of the fluorinated alcohol groups; when both were ionized, the complexes had a zwitterionic ...