An Fe(II) carbonyl complex [(PaPy3)Fe(CO)](ClO4) (1) of the pentadentate ligand N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine-N-ethyl-2-pyridine-2-carboxamide (PaPy3H, H is the dissociable amide proton) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. This Fe(II) carbonyl exhibits its nu(CO) at 1972 cm(-1), and its H-1 NMR spectrum in degassed CD3CN confirms its S = 0 ground state. The bound CO in 1 is not photolabile. Reaction of 1 with an equimolar amount of NO results in the formation of the {Fe-NO}(7) nitrosyl [(PaPy3)Fe(NO)](ClO4) (2), while excess NO affords the iron(III) nitro complex [(PaPy3)Fe(NO2)](ClO4) (5). In the presence of [Fe(Cp)(2)](+) and excess NO, 1 forms the {Fe-NO}(6) nitrosyl [(PaPy3)Fe(NO)](ClO4)(2) (3). Complex 1 also reacts with dioxygen to afford the iron(III) mu-oxo species [{(PaPy3)Fe}(2)O](ClO4)(2) (4). Comparison of the metric and spectral parameters of 1 with those of the previously reported {Fe-NO}(6,7) nitrosyls 3 and 2 provides insight into the electronic distributions in the Fe(II)-CO, Fe(II)-NO, and Fe(II)-NO+ bonds in the isostructural series of complexes 1-3 derived from a non-heme polypyridine ligand with one carboxamide group.