The hexadentate ligand 1,4,7-tris(3-tert-butyl-5-methoxy-2-hydroxybenzyl)-1,4,7- triazacyclononane H(3)L, forms a very stable neutral complex [Cr(III)L]. 2MeCN 2 with chromium(III) which undergoes electrochemically three one-electron oxidations to yield [Cr(III)L](+), [Cr-III](2+) and [Cr-III](3+), respectively; these contain one, two and three coordinated phenoxyl radical ligands; [Cr-III]. 2MeCN and [Cr-III]ClO4 . 3MeCN are characterized by X-ray crystallography.