The monoanionic N4O ligand N-methyl-N, N′-bis (2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine-N′- acetate (mebpena−) undergoes oxidative C–N bond cleavage in the presence of Co (II) and O2. The two resultant fragments are coordinated to the metal ion in the product [CoIII (2- pyridylformate)(mepena)] ClO4 (mepena−= N-methyl-N′-(2-pyridylmethyl) ethylenediamine- N′-acetato). Bond cleavage does not occur in the presence of chloride ions and [CoIII ( ...