The hexanuclear copper complex [Cu6Na(MeL)(12)][NO3](1) (where MeL = C6H6NO, the anion of 2-hydroxy-6-methylpyridine) undergoes ligand transfer reactions with solid hydrated transition metal nitrates. With iron(III) nitrate the salt [Fe(MeLH)(6)][NO3](3), (2) results, while with cobalt(II) nitrate the complex [Co (MeLH)(4)(NO3)(2)] (3) is formed. Both compounds have been characterized by X-ray crystallography, which reveals that in both cases the metals have regular octahedral coordination geometries, and that the protonated ligands are involved in either inter- or intra-molecular hydrogen bonding.