The synthesis of a new Schiff base containing 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxaldehyde and 2-aminobenzenethiol subunits is described. The reaction of 1,10-phenanthroline-2,9-dicarboxaldehyde with 2-aminobenzenethiol leads to the isolation of 2,9-bis(2-benzothiazolinyl)-1,10-phenanthroline (I) which undergoes rearrangement when reacted with cobalt, nickel, copper or zinc ions to produce complexes of the tautomeric Schiff base 2,9-bis[2-(2-mercaptophenyl)-2-azaethene]-1,10-phenanthroline (L). The [Cu(L)ClO 4 ] [ClO 4 ] and [M(L)X 2 ] complexes (where M = Co(II), Ni(II) and Zn(II) and X = Br) were characterized by physical and spectroscopic measurements which indicated that the ligand is acting probably as a tetradentate N 4 chelating agent.