Trivalent and tetravalent cerium compounds of the octamethyltetraazaannulene (H(2)omtaa) ligand have been synthesized. Electrochemical analysis shows a strong thermodynamic preference for the formal cerium(IV) oxidation state. Oxidation of the cerium(III) congener Ce(Homtaa)(omtaa) occurs by hydrogen-atom transfer that includes a single crystal to single crystal transformation upon exposure to an ambient atmosphere.