New tetradentate Schiff base–oxovanadium(IV) complexes which have electron donating or withdrawing groups at the 5-position of the salicylaldehyde moieties, [VO{Xsal-( R, R)-2,4-ptn}] (H 2{Xsal-( R, R)-2,4-ptn}: N, N′-di-Xsalicylidene-( R, R)-2,4-pentanediamine; X=5-MeO (methoxy), 5-Br, and 5-NO 2) were prepared. The structures and redox potentials for the V(V)/V(IV) couple of the complexes were compared with those of other [VO{Xsal-( R, R)-2,4-ptn}] (X=3-EtO (ethoxy), 3-MeO, and H). The 5-MeO substituted complex which has electron donating groups at the 5-position of the salicylaldehyde moieties forms a monomeric structure in the solid state. The 3-EtO substituted complex has both monomeric and polymeric structures. On the other hand, the other [VO{Xsal-( R, R)-2,4-ptn}] (X=H, 3-MeO, 5-Br, 5-NO 2) complexes have only polymeric structures. X-ray crystal structure analysis of [VO{5-MeOsal-( R, R)-2,4-ptn}]⋅CH 3OH ( 1) was carried out. Complex 1 has a monomeric five-coordinate square–pyramidal structure. The six-membered N–N chelate ring forms a distorted flattened boat form with two methyl groups in the axial positions.