M(II) coordination compounds of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni with a Schiff base (HL) derived from the condensation of cephaclor antibiotic with 1,2-diaminobenzene were synthesized and characterized by several techniques, including elemental and thermal analysis, molar conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic, FT-IR, EPR and H-1 NMR spectral studies. The analytical and molar conductance values indicated that the chloride ions coordinate to the metal ions. Based on these studies, the general formulae [M(L)Cl(H2O)] (M(II) = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni) are proposed for the complexes. The ligand HL behaves as a monoanionic tetradentate NNNO chelating agent. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.