, 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 4,7-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dimphen), 2,2′-bipyridyl (bpy) and 2-(2-pyridyl)benimidazole (bipybenImH)], have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform IR spectroscopy, EPR spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetric and differential pulse voltammetric techniques. The oxidation state of V(IV) with d 1 configuration was confirmed by EPR spectroscopy. The complexes were also tested for in vitro antidiabetic activity. Moderate α-glucosidase inhibitions are shown by these complexes. This suggested that the complexes may be promising candidates as antidiabetic agents.