Keywords: Ligand design / N ligands / Tripodal ligands / Coordination chemistry / Manganese / Iron / Zinc / MolybdenumThe synthesis of the novel tripod ligand N[CH 2 CH 2 N= C(NMe 2 ) 2 ] 3 , based on the tris(2-ethylamino)amine (tren) backbone and having a set of three superbasic tetramethylguanidine (TMG) donor atoms instead of the primary amine functionalities, is described. This ligand has been prepared by treating tren with the Vilsmeyer salt [(Me 2 N) 2 CCl]Cl in