The near-infrared spectrum of “square-planar”NN′-ethylenedi(salicylideneiminato)cobalt(II) in the solid state differs from that in dichloromethane solution. When the length of the di-imine bridge in the ligand is increased to seven or more methylene groups, the configurations of the resulting complexes change to distorted tetrahedral symmetry as indicated by magnetic and spectral evidence.