Examples of interesting ligands previously requiring lengthy synthetic procedures have been prepared by onestep routes, opening the way to more extensive studies of their complexes and to possible applications. New dicompartmental ligands bearing picolyl pendant arms on the amine nitrogen donors have been synthesized, via the Mannich condensation, from 5-substituted salicylaldehydes, formaldehyde, and N,N'-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,2-diaminoethane. The protonated acyclic ligand salt, two mononuclear complexes of a macrocyclic ligand with a second compartment featuring a Schiff base, and one of the decomposition products resulting from a retro-Mannich reaction have been structurally characterized. The ligand salt (L1b) has an extended conformation with the ethylenediamine fragment displaying the trans configuration, very different from that of the corresponding closed-site macrocyclic complexes NiH2(L2b)(2+) and ZnH2(L2b)(2+). The mononuclear macrocyclic complex NiH2(L2b)(2+) has a much smaller ligand twist than the corresponcing Zn(II) complex. The degree of ligand distortion is correlated with the M-N bond length between the metal ions and the pyridine nitrogens; longer M-N bonds cause the pyridine rings to tilt and twist the phenolic rings out of the main ligand plane. The ability of the macrocyclic ligand L2b to accommodate a second metal ion has been demonstrated by successful synthesis of dinuclear complexes. The free carbonyl groups of the open-site ligand were transformed into oxime groups, and the corresponding dinuclear bis(nickel) complex has been prepared. Acetal formation by the free carbonyl groups of ligand and retro-Mannich rearrangements are found to be possible pathways for the decomposition of this family of dicompartmental ligands.