The coordinative chemistry of the tridentate half-salen ligand 5-(dimethylamino)-N-(2-((2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)phenyl)naphthalene-1-sulfonamide (H(2)L, 1) has been studied by means of an electrochemical method. All of the complexes have been characterised using analytical and spectroscopic techniques. Ligand 1 and two nickel (6 and 7), copper (9), zinc (12) and cadmium (14) metal complexes have been studied by crystallography. Complexes 6 and 7 are octahedral and tetrahedral nickel(II) complexes, respectively, and both contain an [L](2-) molecule that behaves in an [N(2)O] tridentate manner. Nickel(II) completes its coordination kernel with three water molecules in complex 6, whereas in complex 7 the nickel ion is further bound to a molecule of dansylamine arising from a hydrolysis process. The copper(II) complex 9 is a monomeric compound that contains a bideprotonated ligand thread and a dimethylsulfoxide molecule coordinated through the sulfur atom. The zinc complex 12 is an unusual pentanuclear cluster compound whose structure consists of four anionic ligand units and two hydroxo anions bound to five zinc(II) centres. The appearance of the hydroxo anions in this complex provides new evidence for water reduction electrochemically promoted by zinc metal under mild conditions. The cadmium complex 14 is a dimeric compound that comprises two molecules of the anionic ligand and two dimethylsulfoxide molecules. The great structural variety exhibited by all these complexes demonstrates that the introduction of asymmetry in a salen skeleton by incorporating a dansyl pendant increases the versatility of the resulting ligand on coordination. All complexes are luminescent in solution at room temperature in acetonitrile solutions.