The preparation of pyridylmethylamines (pma)-ZnBr2 and -CoBr2 complexes is described. Accurate structural informations in both solution and solid state have been obtained using an approach combining advanced NMR such as pure shift gradient-encoded selective refocusing (PS-GSERF) and conventional NOESY experiments, DFT calculations and X-ray analysis. The methodology developed has allowed a clear identification and characterization of preferred conformations and configurations at an atomic resolution. Our study has evidenced some key features of the overall 3D structure of pma-Zn and pma-Co complexes which shapes are set by the geometry of the metallacycle, the configuration of the sp 3 nitrogen atom, the equatorial position of the benzyl side arm as well as the preferred spatial arrangement of the chiral side arm with respect to the metallacycle.