N,N'-Bis(2R-hydroxy-2R-phenylethyl)-N,N'-dimethyl-1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane, H(2)L1, and N,N'-bis(2S-hydroxy-2S-methylethyl)-N,N'-dimethyl-1R,2R-diaminocyclohexane, H(2)L2, have been synthesized from readily available chiral precursors. They coordinate as neutral tetradentate ligands to Ni(II) and Cu(II) ions, from which the thiocyanates [M(H(2)L)(NCS)(2)] have been isolated and the structures of the H(2)L1 complexes determined by single-crystal X-ray techniques. In the blue complex [Ni(H(2)L1)(NCS)(2)].H(2)O.2EtOH, 1, and green [Cu(H(2)L1)(NCS)(2)]. 0.5H(2)O, 2, the neutral tetradentate ligands coordinate with the cis-alpha geometry with mutually cis N-bound thiocyanate groups, though the chiral ligands adopt a different stereochemistry in the two complexes. In 2, the absolute configuration about the Cu(II) center is Delta, with the nitrogens possessing the S stereochemistry, whereas for the Ni(II) analogue, coordination gives the Lambda isomer with the R configuration at the stereogenic nitrogens. Addition of H(2)L1 or H(2)L2 to Mn(II) in basic methanol solution results in rapid aerial oxidation. Delta-cis-alpha-[Mn(L1)(OMe)(2)].MeOH, 3, was isolated as black crystals from the reaction mixture after addition of 2 mol of NaOMe. The analogous complex with (L2)(2)(-) proved extremely hygroscopic and was not obtained in pure form. Colorless crystals of Lambda-cis-alpha-[MoO(2)(L1)], 4, were precipitated from a methanolic solution of [MoO(2)(acac)(2)] and H(2)L1. The analogous reaction with H(2)L2 gave Delta-cis-alpha-[MoO(2)(L2)], 5. Structures of 3, 4, and 5 are reported. The reactions of H(2)L1 and H(2)L2 with 1 mol equiv of [Ti(OPr(i))(4)] produced the complexes Delta-cis-alpha-[Ti(L1)(OPr(i))(2)] (white solid) and Lambda-cis-alpha-[Ti(L2)(OPr(i))(2)] (colorless oil), structural assignments for which were made possible by analysis of their (1)H NOE difference spectra. Thus the coordination of these tetradentate ligands is stereospecific, but the absolute configuration of the complexes formed (Delta or Lambda) is dependent on the metal ion involved.