Schiff base pyridine zinc(II) complexes 1~4 were synthesized by the reaction of the 2-((2-hydroxybenzylidene)amino)phenol Schiff base with appended donor functionality, zinc acetate, and pyridine. The results of the structural characterization of the complex show that they have the same coordination mode and similar steric structure. Complexes 1 and 3 form a one-dimensional chain structure and two-dimensional grid structure by lots of hydrogen bonds, respectively. Thermogravimetric analysis shows complexes 1~4 can exist stably below 150 ℃. The results of the fluorescence quenching experiments between the complexes and DNA-EB show that the interaction between them is intercalation, and the effect of complex 1 is the most obvious. It is speculated that the steric hindrance of complex 1 is relatively small, and the aromatic ring on the ligand is more likely to inserted into the base pair of DNA.