The flexible, multi dentate, heteroelemental, dipodal ligands; bis(2pyridylthio)methane, (PyS)2CH2 (Py = pyridyl = C5H4N), (PymS)2CH2, bis(2pyrimidylthio)methane, and bipyrimidyldisulfide, (PymS)2 (Pym = pyrimidine, C4H3N2), were reacted with a series of copper precursors to determine whether monomeric compounds, cubane clusters or polymeric chains would be obtained. Copper(II) chloride, copper(I) cyanide and copper(I) thiocyanate afforded infinite polymeric chains while copper(I) iodide afforded tetranuclear clusters supported by two ligand molecules. All products were characterized in the solid-state by X-ray crystallography. © 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.