CuL
2X
2 (L = 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one, also known as diazepam, X = Cl, Br) complexes have been prepared and investigated by ESR spectroscopy. Powder ESR spectra of these complexes suggest a planar-rhombic distorted local symmetry. The CH
3Cl solutions spectra show the presence of pseudo-tetrahedral species with a 3d
xy+4p
z mixture ground state for the paramagnetic electron. The anisotropic spectra obtained for the Cu(II)-diazepam solution adsorbed on NaY zeolite confirm the existence of a CuN
2X
2 chromophore.