A new Schiff base, [H(4)pydmedpt](2+) center dot 2Cl(-), derived from one of the forms of vitamin B-6 has been synthesized by condensation of pyridoxal hydrochloride with N,N-bis[3-aminopropyl]-methylamine (medpt) and characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods. The molecular structure is calculated by density functional theory (DFT) procedures, and the donor properties of each individual donor atom are evaluated by calculation of the Fukui function. One pot reaction of pyridoxal and met with vanadyl acetylacetonate yields the brown complex [(VO)-O-IV(H(2)pydmedpt)](2+) center dot 2Cl(-) 1, which upon recrystallization from water crystallizes as [(VO)-O-IV(pydmedpt)] center dot 5H(2)O 2. The compounds are characterized by analytical and spectroscopic methods, 2 being also characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction. It displays a slightly distorted octahedral geometry around the vanadium atom involving the coordination of N-amine, two N-imine, and O-phenolato donors of the ligand. One of the phenolato oxygen donors is positioned trans to the terminal O-oxido atom with relatively short V-O-phenolate {2.041(3) angstrom} and long V-O-oxido {1.625(4) angstrom} bond distances when compared to other known compounds. The two different pK(a) values (6.0 and 7.9) obtained for 1 are due to protonation of the pyridine ring nitrogen atoms having different basic characters, this being also substantiated by theoretical calculation of the proton affinity of the O- and N- atoms of the molecule. The spin Hamiltonian parameters are obtained from the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra, but the A(z) value (ca. 155 x 10(-4) cm(-1)) is lower than expected by applying the additivity rule for the present set of equatorial donor atoms (ca. 162-163 x 10-4 cm(-1)), this being attributed to the strong trans V-O-phenolate bond. The UV- vis transitions and EPR spectral parameters are calculated by DFT procedures, and both the calculated electronic transitions and the hyperfine coupling constants agree well with those experimentally observed. The inhibitory effect of 1 on FFA release and % glucose uptake determined with isolated rat adipocyte cells gave IC50 and EC50 values lower than for (VOSO4)-O-IV and of the same order of magnitude of other reported insulin enhancing vanadium compounds.