The tripodal amine chelate with two pyridyl groups and an alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA) group, Pyr-TPA-AHA, was synthesized. Different Fe(III) complexes form with this chelate depending upon the counterion of the Fe(111) source used in the synthesis. A dinuclear complex, Fe(III)(2)(Pyr-TPA-AHA)(2)(mu-O), 1, and mononuclear complexes Fe(III)(Pyr-TPA-AHA)X (X = Cl- or Br-, 2 and 3, respectively) were synthesized. 2 can be easily converted to 1 by addition of silver nitrate or a large excess of water. The structure of 1 was solved by X-ray crystallography (C32H34N6O2Fe2 center dot 13H(2)O, a = 14.1236(6) angstrom, b = 14.1236(6) angstrom, c = 21.7469(15) angstrom, alpha = beta = gamma = 90 degrees, tetragonal, P4(2)2(1)2, Z = 4). 2 and 3 each have simple quasireversible cyclic voltammograms with E-1/2 (vs aqueous Ag/AgCl) = +135 mV for 2 and +470 for 3 in acetonitrile. The cyclic voltammogram for 1 in acetonitrile has a quasireversible feature at E-1/2 = -285 mV and an irreversible cathodic feature at -1140 mV. All three complexes are photochemically active upon irradiation with UV light, resulting in cleavage of the AHA group and reduction of the iron to Fe(II). Photolysis of 1 results in reduction of both Fe(III) ions in the dinuclear complex for each AHA group that is cleaved, while photolysis of 2 and 3 results in reduction of a single Fe(III) for each AHA cleavage. The quantum yields for 2 and 3 are significantly higher than that of 1.