rac-[Co(ambi)(3)]Cl-3 center dot 3H(2)O corresponds to a tris-chelate complex bearing 2-(aminomethyl)benzimidazole (ambi) ligands bound to the Co(III) ion in a facial-type fashion. The high metal q/r ratio and electronic delocalization between coordination heterocyclic functionalities can provide powerful tools to minimize DNA condensation, which arises from the neutralization of the negatively charged sugar phosphate backbone in the presence of multivalent [Co(ambi)(3)](3+).