Homochiral [M((R)-L R) 2 ] 2+ and heterochiral [M((R)-L R)((S)-L R)] 2+ isomers of [Zn(L Ph) 2 ][BF 4 ] 2 , [Zn(L iPr) 2 ][BF 4 ] 2 , [Co(L Ph) 2 ][BF 4 ] 2 , and [Co(L iPr) 2 ][BF 4 ] 2 (L Ph = 2,6-bis(4phenyloxazolinyl)pyridine; L iPr = 2,6-bis(4-isopropyloxazolinyl)pyridine) have been prepared and characterised. Six of the eight compounds were crystallographically characterised, showing that steric repulsions between ligand substituents lead to more distorted coordination geometries in the homochiral isomers, especially in the L iPr complexes. Heterochiral [M((R)-L iPr)((S)-L iPr)] 2+ (M = Zn or Co) undergoes partial racemisation in CD 3 CN through ligand redistribution reactions, whereas [M((R)-L Ph)((S)-L Ph)] 2+ does not (in agreement with previous reports). This may be a consequence of intramolecular ...interactions in [M((R)-L Ph)((S)-L Ph)] 2+ , whereby each pyridyl group is sandwiched between two phenyl substituents from the other L Ph ligand. These ...-interactions are disrupted in homochiral [M((R)-L R) 2 ] 2+ , owing to the aforementioned steric clash between phenyl substituents in that isomer. Dedicated to Spyros Perlepes on the occasion of his 65 th birthday.