The, nitrin, 2-aminobenzaldehyde phenylhydrazone (2ABPH) was synthesis by refluxing 2-nitrobenzaldehyde with phenylhydrazine in ethanolic solvent. Three transition metal (II) complexes of 2ABPH have been prepared. Elemental analysis, molar conductivity, IR, UV, H-1 NMR, and mass spectra, as well as TG/DTG have been used to characterize these complexes. The complexes have the general formula [M(2Al(3)PH)(2)]Cl-2 center dot nH(2)O, where M=Zn, Cd, and Hg and n=4, 2 and 0 for Zn(II), Cd(II) and Hg(II), respectively. The ligand and its complexes have been studied for their possible biological activity including antibacterial and anti fungal activity. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.