A new ligand 2,4,6-tris[{N-methyl-NЈ-(pyridine-2-yl)methylidene}hydrazino]-1,3,5-triazine (L) has been synthesized from cyanuric chloride in two steps. The threefold symmetric L features three potentially tridentate {N 3 } binding compartments. However, with Mn II it binds a single metal ion using one of the triazine N atoms and two chelate arms. This {N 5 } set forms the equatorial plane of a distorted pentagonal-bipyramidal metal ion environment, with a variety of ligands in axial positions. Five such Mn II complexes have been isolated and characterized by X-ray crystallography. Complex 1 features axial water and nitrato-O ligands. In 5, the latter is replaced by dicyanamide. Two terminal azido ligands are