Syntheses, structures and luminescence behaviors of mono- and dinuclear complexes of type [M(L)(NCS)2]n [M = Zn/Hg, n = 1; M = Cd, n = 2; L = (N,N-diethyl,N′-(pyridin-2-yl)benzylidene)ethane-1,2-diamine]: Variation of coordination matrices and

► Three Group 12 metal compounds [Zn(L)(NCS)2], [Cd(L)(NCS)(SCN)]2 and [Hg(L)(SCN)2] are isolated. ► X-ray structures show interesting variation in coordination matrices and nuclearities. ► TG-DTA analyses show interesting variation in decomposition patterns in these compounds. ► The compounds along with the tridentate Schiff base (L) are examples of luminous materials.