Metal-mediated base pairs can be used to insert metal ions into nucleic acids at precisely defined positions. As structural data on the resulting metal-modified DNA are scarce, appropriate model complexes need to be synthesized and structurally characterized. Accordingly, the molecular structures of nine transition metal complexes of N-methyl-2,2'-dipicolylamine (dipic) are reported. In combination with an azole-containing artificial nucleoside, this tridentate ligand had recently been used to generate metal-mediated base pairs (Chem. Commun. 2011, 47, 11041-11043). The Pd II and Pt II complexes reported