A new vic-dioxime ligand containing benzophenone hydrazone units, N'-(benzophenone hydrazone)glyoxime [LH2] has been prepared from benzophenone hydrazone and anti-chloroglyoxime in absolute ethanol. Mononuclear nickel(II), cobalt(II), copper(II), zinc(II), and cadmium(II) complexes were also synthesized. Ligand and complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, FT-IR, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR spectroscopy, magnetic moments, and DTA/TG techniques. On the basis of the magnetic and spectral evidences a square-planar geometry for Ni(II) and Cu(II) complexes, tetrahedral for Cd(II) and Zn(II) complexes, and octahedral for Co(II) complex were proposed. Redox behaviors of ligand and its complexes were also investigated by cyclic voltammetry at the glassy carbon electrode. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.