Schiff bases of the type salicylidene 2-aminobenzothiazole and o-nitrobenzylidene 2-aminobenzothiazole were prepared by condensation of 2-aminobenzothiazole with salicylaldehyde and o-nitrobenzaldehyde. The bases react with cobalt(II), nickel(II) and copper(II) chlorides to give 1:1 and 1:2 complexes. Electronic spectra, magnetic susceptibility measurements and infrared data are used to infer the structures. The thermal decomposition of the complexes and evaluation of the thermodynamic parameters are also reported.