A novel tetranuclear nickel(II) complex [Ni4L2(DMF)(2)(H2O)(2).2DMF] (1, H4L = azo-enolic-2-hydroxybenzamide, DMF = N,N-dimethyl-formamide) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, UV, IR and X-ray single-crystal diffraction characterization. Complex 1 crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/n with a = 8.8944(11), b = 14.4583(18), c = 18.097(2) angstrom, beta = 90.00(2)degrees, Z = 2, V = 2327.2(5) angstrom(3), C40H48N12Ni4O14, M-r = 1155.66, D-c = 1.649 g/cm(3), mu = 1.672 mm(-1), F(000) = 1192, R = 0.0392 and wR = 0.0958. The local coordination environment around the nickel ions exist a distorted octahedral and quadrangle geometry in the molecular structure. Complex 1 exhibits strong photoluminescent emission in the ultraviolet region at room temperature. The electrochemical studies reveal that redox of Ni3+/Ni2+ in the complex is a quasi-reversible process.