The coordination chemistry of the tridentate pincer ligand TL tBu , which contains two electron-rich imidazolin-2-imine moieties, has been explored. The reaction of TL tBu with metal dihalides gave complexes of the general formula [(TL tBu )-MX 2 ] (M = Mn, Fe, Co, Ni; X = Cl, Br). These complexes were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, which showed them to have different geometries in the solid state. Although [(TL tBu )MnCl 2 ] (1) is best described as distorted square-pyramidal, the complexes [(TL tBu )FeCl 2 ] (2) and [(TL tBu )CoCl 2 ] (3) show distorted tetrahedral geometries with the TL tBu ligand bound in a κ 2 fashion and one of its imidazolin-2-imine fragments not coordinated to the metal atom. [(TL tBu )NiBr]Br (4) crystallizes with a slightly distorted square-planar cation. The reaction of the triflate (OTf) salts [M(OTf) 2 ·nMeCN] (M = Mn, n = 1; M = Fe, Co, n = 2; OTf = CF 3 SO 3 ) with TL tBu resulted in [(TL tBu )M(OTf)][OTf] (M = Mn, 5; M = Fe, 6) and [(TL tBu )Co(NCMe)][OTf] 2 ( 7). Complexes 6 and 7 were characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, and both showed distorted square-planar geometries. Magnetic measurements of 5, 6 and 7 showed them to possess a S = 5/2, 2 and 1/2 ground states, respectively. The [a] www.eurjic.org FULL PAPER plained by the pronounced ability of the imidazolium moiety to stabilize a positive charge by delocalization over the five-membered N-heterocycle. [5] For related bidentate bis-(imidazolin-2-imine) ligands (BL R ), [6] the enhanced nucleophilicity of the exocyclic N-imino groups was successfully exploited for the stabilization of unusual 16-valenceelectron half-sandwich complexes of the type [(η 5 -C 5 Me 5 )-Ru(BL R )] + , [(η 6 -C 6 H 6 )Ru(BL R )] 2+ and [(η 7 -C 7 H 7 )Mo-(BL R )] + . [7,8,9] In addition, copper(I) complexes containing the tridentate TL tBu ligand are very reactive and have a tendency to form stable, square-planar copper(II) complexes of the general type [(TL tBu -κ 3 )CuX], which have been applied successfully in aerobic CO 2 fixation (X = HCO 3 -κO), C-Cl bond activation and Cu I disproportionation reactions (X = Cl). [10] Scheme 1.As a continuation of our work, [11] we aimed to extend the coordination chemistry of the tridentate TL tBu ligand to the "earlier" first row transition metals manganese, iron, cobalt and nickel. Accordingly, the ligand was directly reacted with the corresponding divalent metal halide and trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate, OTf) salts. [12] Owing to the specific steric and electronic characteristics of the ligand, we envisaged the formation of unusual square-planar metal complexes, which might show potentially interesting chemical reactivities and magnetic properties. In addition, these complexes could also serve as valuable starting materials for the preparation of high-valent (TL tBu )M complexes, in which the particularly strong electron-releasing capability of the coordinated pincer ligand might facilitate the isolation of new and highly reactive complexes such as metaloxo (M=O), [13,14] -imido...