The coordinational preference of tri(2-pyridyl)methanol to rhodium(III
) was investigated. Two different methods were used for the preparatio
n of complexes. Starting either from Rh(I) in chloroform or from Rh(II
I) led to the same final complex, in which the ligand coordinates to t
he rhodium ion in a symmetrical N,N',N '' fashion, although, in the la
tter case, the intermediate formation of an unsymmetrical isomer was o
bserved.