The thesis describes the preparation of the β-aminoketone ligand 4,4,9,9-tetramethyl-5,8-diazadodecane-2,11- dione (1) and of the derived diamine-dioxime and tetraamine ligands. Thermodynamic data are reported for complex formation of these ligands, and an analogous tetraamine, with protons and copper(II) ions. For the protonation reactions, data are interpreted in terms of the structure of the ligands. The thermodynamic data for the formation of the copper complexes indicate that the donor strength of the functional groups is in the order amine >>oxime >>ketone.