An unusual but informative synthesis and the crystal structure of [Co(tpaCO2)Cl](ClO4) (tpaCO2−=6-carboxylato-2- (pyridylmethyl)-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine)

Reaction of 2,6-bis(bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amino)methylpyridine (bpa-tpa) with Co(ClO4)2 ·6H2O has produced [Co(tpaCO2)Cl](ClO4), the first structurally characterised cobalt(III) complex of a ligand based on the tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (tpa) skeleton; the formation of tpaCO2− in the reaction highlights the instability of pyridylmethylamines to oxidative cleavage, which has implications for the long-term stability of catalysts prepared from such ligands.