Novel binuclear Zn(ii) complexes (1–2) derived from bis-chelating salen type ligands (H2L1 and H2L2) possessing N,N-diethylamine moieties on the periphery of the molecules have been synthesized and thoroughly characterized by satisfactory elemental analyses and spectral (FT-IR, 1H, 13C NMR, UV-vis, fluorescence and ESI-MS) studies.