New Schiff bases have been synthesized from aminophenoxy alkyloxy benzenamines and salicylaldehyde in the presence of a catalytic amount of p-toluenesulfonic acid (p-TSA). Further reaction of these Schiff bases with transition metal salts, for example those of Cu(II) and Zn(II), gave the corresponding complexes. The structures of these compounds were characterized by use of elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, and UV–visible spectroscopy, and atomic absorption data. The ligands and the related complexes were also tested for their in-vitro antibacterial activity.