Abstract The electrode behaviour and spectral characteristics of binary and ternary complexes of copper(II) with glycylglycine and some amino acids have been investigated in aqueous 0.3M sodium perchlorate medium. For ternary complexes, glycylglycine(GG) was used as a primary ligand and amino acid—glycine (Gly) L-α-alanine (α-Ala), DL-α-aminobutyric acid (α-Aba), DL-n-valine (n-Val), DL-valine (Val), L-serine (Ser) or L-threonine (Thr)–as a secondary one. From a suitable analysis of the polarographic and spectral data, the stoichiometry and stereochemistry of the complex species formed at different pH values have been ascertained. A probable mechanism for the electro-reduction of the complexes has been proposed. The anamalous behaviour of glycine complexes has been rationalized on the basis of the steric factors. |