The crystal structures of the complexes [Cr{(S)-pdtrp}(H,O)] 1 [(S)-pdtrp = (S)-propane-1,2diamine-N,N,N'-tripropionate] and [Cr{(SS)-cydtrp}(H,O)] 2 [(SS)-cydtrp = (1 S,2S)-transcyclohexane-l,2-diamine-N,N,N'-tripropionate] were determined by X-ray diffraction methods: 1, monoclinic, space group P2, a = 13.474(9), b = 9.867(3), c = 14.506(5) A, p = 105.85(3)' and Z = 4; 2, triclinic, space group P1, a = 13.938(7), b = 14.01 6(6), c = 13.901 (4) p\, 0: = 106.24(3), p = 11 2.50(3), y =73.21(4)" and Z = 4. The t w o complexes have the same geometrical structure, transequatorial, where t w o propionato chelates attached t o the tertiary amine are co-ordinated meridionally. This structure substantiates that the anomalous C-N bond rupture observed in the t w o of the three diastereoisomers of [Cr(edtp)] -(edtp = ethylenediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetrapropionate) type complexes occurs at the R (relaxed) out-of-plane ring, not at the G (girdling) in-plane ring.