[en] A new azomethine compound, 2-{(E)-[2-(4-hydroxybutylamino)benzimidazol-1-yl]iminomethyl}- phenol, and its cobalt(II) and copper(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized by IR, ¹Н NMR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and quantum-chemical calculations. The crystal and molecular structures of the cobalt complex were established by X-ray diffraction analysis. The oxidation state of the cobalt ion in the complex after its crystallization from the solution was defined more exactly by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.