Abstract In this study, we synthesized the amine compounds 2-{(E)-[(2-aminoethyl)imino]methyl}phenol (H3A) and 2-{(E)-[(3-aminopropyl)imino]methyl}-6-methoxyphenol (H3B) as the starting materials. From reactions of the starting materials with 2-hydroxy-5-methylisophthalaldehyde, phthalaldehyde, and 2-hydroxy-5-t-butylisophthalaldehyde, we prepared the new ligands H3L1–H3L3 and H2L. The Cu(II) and Cd(II) complexes of the ligands have been obtained. Microanalytical data, magnetic moment, 1H(13C) NMR, mass spectra, FT-IR, and conductivity measurements have been used to explain the structures of the ligands and their complexes. The protonation constants of the ligands H3L1–H3L3 have been studied in a 1:1 molar ratio (M:L). Protonation and stability constants of the Schiff bases and their Cu(II) and Cd(II) complexes have been determined by the potentiometric titration method in 50% dioxane–water media at 25.00 ± 0.02 °C under a nitrogen atmosphere and ionic strength of 0.1 M NaClO4. The ligands H3L1–H3L3 have seven protonation constants. In other words, the ligand H2L has six protonation constants. The variation of protonation constants of these compounds were interpreted on the basis of structural effects exposed by the substituents.