Novel macrocyclic (monocyclic and bicyclic) compounds having nitrogen bridgehead atoms and having in the hydrocarbon bridging chains at least two additional hetero atoms selected from the group consisting of sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen, when admixed with a compatible cation-donor compound form stable cation-containing macrocyclic complexes which, in turn, can be conveniently dissociated by addition of acid or a quaternizing agent. The novel macrocyclics are valuable for use in the same way and for the same purposes as chelating agents.