Monosaccharide (D-Fru, D-Gal, D-Glc, D-Xyl, and D-Rib) and disaccharide (Mal) complexes of Zn2+ were synthesised using different precursors and isolated in the solid state. These were found to be anionic with a Zn-to-saccharide ratio of 1:1 and 2:1 for monosaccharide and disaccharide complexes, respectively. Electrochemical behaviour in aqueous solution was studied by extensive cyclic voltammetric studies in the pH range 3.7-10.3. The effect of subcutaneously injected Zn-D-Fru, Zn-D-Gal and Zn-D-Glc complexes on the metallothionein synthesis in mice was found to be significant in the liver, but not in the brain.