Metal complexes of a Schiff base ligand derived from cefotaxime and salicylaldehyde were prepared. The salicilydene-cefotaxime ligand (H 2 L) and mononuclear [M(L)] (M(II) = Co, Ni and Cu), dinuclear [Ag 2 (L)(OAc) 2 ], and tetranuclear metal complexes [M 4 (L)(OH) 6 ] (M(II) = Ni, Cu) were characterized on the basis of analytical, thermal, magnetic, and spectral studies (IR, UV-visible, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, and EPR). The electronic spectra of the complexes and their magnetic moments suggesttetrahedral geometry for the isolated complexes. The complexes are nonelectrolytes and insoluble in water and common organic solvents but soluble in DMSO.