When the complexes [Cu(L1)(H2O)](ClO4)2 1, where L1 = 4-methyl-1-(pyrid-2-ylmethyl)-1,4-diazacycloheptane, and [Cu(L2)Cl2] 2, where L2 = 4-methyl-1-(quinol-2-ylmethyl)-1,4- diazacycloheptane are interacted with one/two equivalents of bis(p-nitrophenylphosphate, (p-NO2Ph)2PO2, BNP), no hydrolysis of BNP is observed. From the solution the adducts of copper(II) complexes [Cu2(L1)2((p-NO2Ph) 2PO2)2]-(ClO4)2 3 and [Cu(L2)((p-NO2Ph)2PO2)2] ·H2O 4 have been isolated and structurally characterised. The X-ray crystal structure of 3 contains two Cu(L1) units bridged by two BNP molecules. The Cu···Cu distance (5.1 ) reveals no Cu-Cu interaction. On the other hand, the complex 4 is mononuclear with Cu(II) coordinated to the 3N ligand as well as BNP molecules through phosphate oxygen. The trigonality index (τ, 0.37) observed for 4 is high suggesting the presence of significant trigonal distortion in the coordination geometry around copper(II). The complexes are further characterized by spectral and electrochemical studies. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.