A new 1,2-dihydroquinazolin-4(3H)-one ligand, 2-[2-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl]-3-[2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylamino]-1,2-dihydroquinazolin-4(3H)-one (Hmpbaq), formed by the condensation of 2-aminobenzoylhydrazide with 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde and its copper(II), nickel(II), cobalt(II), manganese(II), zinc(II) and cadmium(II) complexes, have been synthesized. Their structures have been elucidated on the basis of elemental analyses, conductance measurements, magnetic moments, spectral (i.r., 1 H-n.m.r., u.v.-vis., e.p.r. and FAB-mass) and thermal studies. The formation of 1,2-dihydroquinazolin-4(3H)-one rather than hydrazone in the reaction of 2-aminobenzoylhydrazide with 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde is confirmed by the 1 H-n.m.r. spectra and single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The tridentate behavior of the ligand was proposed on the basis of spectral studies. X-band e.p.r. spectra of the copper(II) and manganese(II) complexes in the polycrystalline state at room temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature were recorded and their salient features are reported. Thermal stabilities of the manganese(II) and zinc(II) complexes have been studied.