Reaction of indenyl lithium or fluorenyl lithium with 2-bromoethylamine hydrobromide gave two new intermediates 1 and 3 respectively, which were then condensed with 3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylalde- hyde to afford two new Schiff bases 2 and 4 respectively. These compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectra and X-ray structural determination. The crystal of the compound 2 belongs to monoclinic, space group P2₁/c with cell parameter a＝0.9771(2) nm, b＝1.9561(4) nm, c＝1.1901(3) nm, β＝99.955(5)°, M_r＝375.53, V＝2.2404(8) nm³, D_c＝1.113 g/cm³, Z＝4, F(000)＝816, μ＝0.066 mm^－1, R₁＝0.0769 and wR₂＝0.1625. The crystal of the compound 4 belongs to triclinic, P space group, a＝0.9688(3) nm, b＝0.9699(3) nm, c＝1.3535(5) nm, α＝95.280(7)°, β＝105.394(11)°, γ＝90.987(12)°, M_r＝425.59, V＝1.2197(8) nm³, D_c＝1.159 g/cm³, Z＝2, F(000)＝460, μ＝0.069 mm^－1, R₁＝0.0589 and wR₂＝0.1312.

Key words: indene, fluorene, salicylaldehyde, Schiff-base, synthesis, crystal structure