A new multidentate ligand (1, 10-PDOPD), with a 1, 10-phenanthrolinernbackbone was synthesized by the condensation reaction of 1, 10-rnphenanthroline-5.6-dione (PD) and o-phenylenediamine (OPDA). Ni (II) and Znrn(II) complexes were synthesized by direct method. An alternative templaternmethod was also applied for the synthesis of Ni (II) and Zn (II) complexes usingrnthe respective metal ions and the ligand precursors OPDA and PD with (molernratio 1:1). The 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, UV-Vis and elemental analysis were used forrnthe characterization of the ligand. The complexes were structurally studiedrnthrough AAS, UV-Vis, conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements.rnThe magnetic susceptibility at RT of all Ni (II) complexes synthesized showedrnthe presence of two unpaired electrons for the metal ion. All complexes arernnon-electrolytes in DMF solution. Octahedral geometries have been suggestedrnfor each of the complexes.rnKeywords: 1, 10-PDOPD, 1, 10-phenanthroline-5.6-dione (PD), 1, 10-rnphenanthroline (phen) o-phenylenediamine (OPDA), template synthesis, directrn(non-template synthesis), octahedral geometry, Ni (II) and Zn (II) complexes.