Other metal
Other metal–salen complexes may have additional ligands above the salen nitrogen–oxygen plane. Complexes with one extra ligand, such as VO(salen), may have a square pyramidal molecular geometry. Complexes with two extra ligands, such as Co(salen)Cl(py), may have octahedral geometry. Usually the MN2O2 core is relatively planar, even though the ethylene backbone is skewed and the overall salen ligand takes a twisted C2 symmetry. Examples exist where ancillary ligands force the N2O2 donors out of planarity. No evidence indicates that salen is a redox-noninnocent ligand.