Ternary Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II) and UO2(II) complexes with piroxicam (Pir) drug (H2L1) and dl-alanine (Ala) (HL2) and also the binary UO2(II) complex with Pir were studied. The structures of the complexes were elucidated using elemental, IR, molar conductance, magnetic moment, diffused reflectance and thermal analyses. The UO2(II) binary complex was isolated in 1:2 ratio with the formula [UO2(H2L2](NO3)(2). The ternary complexes were isolated in 1:1:1 (M:H2L1:L-2) ratios. The solid complexes were isolated in the general formulae [M(H2L)(L-2)(Cl)(n)(H2O)(m)]center dot yH(2)O (M = Fe(III) (n = 2, m = 0, y = 1), Co(II) (n = 1, m = 1, y = 2) and Ni(II) (n = 1, m = 1, y = 0)); [M(H2L)(L-2)(X)(z)center dot yH(2)O (M = Cu(II) (X = AcO, z= 1, y = 0), Zn(II) (X = AcO, z = 1, y = 3) and UO2(II) (X = NO3, z = 1, y = 2)). Pir behaves as a neutral bidentate ligand coordinated to the metal ions via the pyridine-N and carbonyl-O groups, while Ala behaves as a uninegatively bidentate ligand coordinated to the metal ions via the deprotonated carboxylate-O and amino-N. The magnetic and reflectance spectral data show that the complexes have octahedral geometry except Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes have tetrahedral structures. The thermal decomposition of the complexes was discussed in relation to structure, and the thermodynamic parameters of the decomposition stages were evaluated. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.