Ni2+ with a tripodal hexadentate ligand (H3L = 1,1,1-tris(N-salicylideneaminomethyl)ethane) afforded the O–H···O bridged dinuclear [Ni2(HL)2] complex. When Ni2+ was allowed to react with H3L in the presence of triethylamine (3 : 2 : 6), the linear trinuclear [Ni3(L)2] complexformed, where the central nickel(II) ion is bridged by six phenolate oxygen atoms to the terminal nickel(II) ions.