Abstract Two tripodal ligands containing two pyridyl and one 4-(benzimidazol-2-yl)-2-tert- butylphenol (HL H) and one 2-tert-butyl-4-(N-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl) phenol (HL Me) unit have been synthesized. They possess a N 3 O donor set that is known to stabilize phenoxyl radicals more efficiently than the corresponding N 2 O 2 donor unit. Reaction of one molar equiv. of Cu (ClO 4) 2· 6H 2 O with HL H or HL Me affords the zwitterionic ...