Upon reaction of HL1 1 (picoline-tetrazolylamide) with cobalt(II) acetate under aerobic conditions or with copper(II) acetate, the mono-nuclear complex [CoIII(L1)3] 3 and the di-nuclear complex [Cu2(L1)4] 4 were generated. In 3 and 4, (L1)− exclusively coordinates across its nitrogen donors. However, when HL2 5 (picoline-tetrazolylthioamide) was reacted with copper- or nickel acetate, the di-nuclear cluster [Cu2(L2)4] 6 and the tetra-nuclear cluster [Ni4(L2)8] 7, respectively, were isolated. Contrary to 3 and 4, in 6 and 7, (L2)− also coordinates across sulfur.