A new dinucleating ligand, 1,5-bis(1-pyrazolyl)-3-[bis(2-imidazolyl)methyl] azapentane (Hbpzbiap), containing pyrazoles and imidazoles has been designed and synthesized. The synthesis and characterization of the copper complexes with the ligand Hbpzbiap and its dehydronated form are described. This study is aimed at modeling the active site of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD). Single crystals of the imidazolato-bridged complex [Cu-2(bpzbiap)Cl-3] (1) and non-imidazolato-bridged complex [Cu-2(Hbpzbiap)Cl-4] (2) were obtained and their structures determined by X-ray diffraction. Both structures show two copper centers in two different coordination environments : a distorted square pyramid and a distorted tetrahedron. The Cu-nitrogen bond lengths range from 1.919(4) to 2.039(3) Angstrom and are as expected. The copper-copper distances from 5.566(1) to 6.104(1) Angstrom being only slightly shorter than that found in bovine erythrocyte SOD. Temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility study of 1 shows antiferromagnetic behavior with -2J = 96 cm(-1). From pH-dependent electron paramagnetic resonance and electronic spectra, [Cu-2(bpzbiap)Cl-3] has been demonstrated to be stable over a quite wide pH range including the physiological pH values. A low concentration of this complex (1) catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide at biological pH. Voltammetric studies indicate a quasi-reversible redox behavior in aqueous solution at pH 7. These results clearly indicate that complex 1 is a good model for superoxide dismutase.