A binuclear tetraprotonated macrocyclic complex Mg(2)(L(2)-H(4))(NO(3))(2)(2).6H(2)O (1) has been obtained by template condensation of 4-methyl-2,6-diformylphenol and 1,2-diaminoethane in the presence of magnesium acetate and nitrate. Complex 1 on reduction with NaBH(4), followed by the removal of magnesium, yields the 36-membered octaaminotetraphenol macrocyclic ligand H(4)L(1). The replacement of magnesium in 1 with copper(II) leads to the formation of the binuclear complex [Cu(2)L(3)(ClO(4))(2)] (2) derived from the [2+2] cyclization product of 4-methyl-2,6-diformylphenol and 1,2-diaminoethane. From H(4)L(1) a series of tetranuclear nickel(II) complexes 5-8 with the core cation Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(2)-X)(2)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2) (X = NCS, N(3), OAc, or Cl) have been synthesized and characterized. The trinuclear complex [Ni(3)L(1)(acac)(2)(H(2)O)(2).2H(2)O (9), obtained by reacting nickel(II) acetylacetonate with H(4)L(1), on treatment with nickel(II) perchlorate produces the tetranuclear compound Ni(4)L(1)(acac)(2)(H(2)O)(4)(2) (10). Variable-temperature (4-300 K) magnetic susceptibility measurements have been carried out for the tetracopper(II) complex Cu(4)L(1)(H(2)O)(4)(4) (3) and the tetranickel(II) complexes Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(3)-OH)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)(ClO(4))(2).2CH(3)COCH(3).H(2)O (4), Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(2)-NCS)(2)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)(2).2CH(3)CN (5), Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(2)-N(3))(2)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)(2).2CH(3)OH (6), Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(2)-OAc)(2)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)(2).2H(2)O (7), and [Ni(4)L(1)(&mgr;(2)-Cl)(2)(&mgr;(2)-H(2)O)(2)]Cl(2).4H(2)O (8). The X-ray structure of 5 has been determined. The complex (C(50)H(70)N(12)O(14)Cl(2)S(2)Ni(4)) crystallizes in the triclinic space group P&onemacr; with a = 11.794(6) Å, b = 12.523(4) Å, c = 12.794(5) Å, alpha = 117.28(5) degrees, beta = 96.38(4) degrees, gamma = 109.65(3) degrees, and Z = 1. In the asymmetric unit each of the nickel(II) centers with distorted octahedral geometry is triply-bridged by a phenoxide group, a water molecule, and a N-bonded thiocyanate and these metal centers are further bridged to their symmetry-related counterparts by another phenoxide group. The experimental susceptibility data have been analyzed using appropriate Heisenberg spin coupling models (H = -2J(ij)()S(i)().S(j)()) and the best-fit spin exchange parameters obtained are as follows: J = -288(3) cm(-)(1) (3); J(1) = -8.1(2) cm(-)(1), J(2) = -10.2(2) cm(-)(1) (4); J(1) = -34.5(1.0) cm(-)(1), J(2) = -9.5(2.0) cm(-)(1) (5); J(1) = -34(1) cm(-)(1), J(2) = 11(2) cm(-)(1) (6); J(1) = -30(1) cm(-)(1), J(2) = -7.0(1.5) cm(-)(1) (7); J(1) = -32(1) cm(-)(1), J(2) = -4(1) cm(-)(1) (8).