The Schiff bases derived from 3,4-dimethyl-Δ3- tetrahydrobenzaldehyde or 4,6-dimethyl-Δ3- tetrahydrobenzaldehyde and glycine and their complexes with nickel (II) and copper (II) were synthesized and investigated. All compounds were characterized by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, and FT-IR spectroscopy. The Schiff base ligands and their complexes were further characterized by 1H NMR. The results suggest that the Schiff base acts as a bidentate ligand, which bonds to the metal ions through the imino nitrogen and carboxylate oxygen. The potassium salts of the Schiff bases are 1 : 1 electrolytes but all the complexes are nonelectrolytes. © 2007 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.