Ethanol solutions of the cobalt(ii) halides react with an excess of 2-(ortho-anilinyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxazoline (1: i.e. 2-(2′-anilinyl)-4,4-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3-oxazole) to give isolable κ²-N,N′-bonded species of 1 in good to excellent yields. The complexes CoX₂(1-κ²-N,N′)·(H₂O) _n have been isolated for X = Cl (2: n = 1/2), X = Br and I (3 and 4, respectively; n = 0); the solid-state structures (X-ray) are in accordance with those suggested by UV-visible spectroscopy and conductivity measurements (i.e. non-ionic complexes with a pseudo-tetrahedral coordination motif around Co). In contrast, reaction of excess 1 with Co(NCS)₂ forms the octahedral (UV-visible, X-ray) bis-isothiocyanato complex Co(NCS-κ¹-N′)₂(1-κ²-N,N′)₂ (5) with cis-oriented NCS groups and trans-disposed oxazolines. Calculations at the PM3(tm) level of theory suggest that this isomer is close in energy to the four other possible (gas-phase) isomers. Treatment of ethanol solutions of hydrated cobaltous nitrate with excess 1 yields a material analyzed as [Co(NO₃)(1)(H₂O)₂](NO₃) (6a) and a small amount (less than 1%) of a second complex (6b); the latter has been characterized (X-ray) as the hydrated octahedral complex [Co(NO₃-κ¹-O)(1-κ²-N,N′)₂(OH₂)](NO₃). In this case, the nitrato and aqua groupings are located cis to one another and trans to the coordinated –NH₂ groups. Complex 6a is surmised to have a [Co(NO₃-κ²-O,O′)₂(1-κ²-N,N′)(OH₂)₂]NO₃ structure. Cobalt compounds 2–5 and 1 have also been screened for their antifungal properties against Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Candida albicans, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae but were found to be inactive in this regard.