The synthesis of the novel ligand tris(2,2′-bipyrid-6-yl) methanol (L¹) is described. Co-ordination of the ligand to the first row transition metals (Mn²⁺–Zn²⁺) as well as Cd²⁺ showed that the ligand formed complexes close to trigonal prismatic in geometry in the solid state. Analysis of the geometry of the co-ordination spheres showed varying degrees of trigonal prismatic and octahedral character. For each d-electron configuration, this could be related to the relative differences in ligand field stabilisation energies for the two geometries.