The synthesis of 1,4,5,8,9,12-hexaazatriphenylene (HAT), a newligand for low-valent transition metals, is described; it gives mono-, bis- and tris-chromium tetracarbonyl complexes. The CO stretching frequencies in (HAT)Cr(CO)4 show that HAT is a stronger electron acceptor than 1,10-phenanthroline.