A synthesis for the new tetrapodal ligands [N,N'-dimethyl-N,N'-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2-ethylene diamine (L(1)) (3a) and [N,N'-di-benzyl-N,N'-di(quinoline-2-methyl)]-1,2 diamine (L(2)) (3b) and for the related octahedral complexes (L(1,2))FeCl2 (6a and 6b) and (L(1,2))CoCl2 (7a and 7b) is given. The solid state structures of 3b and 6a have been determined. Three different modes are possible for a tetradentate coordination of L(1,2) to FeCl2 or CoCl2. In 6a the ligand adopts a single chiral geometry around the Cl-Fe-Cl plane.