The in-depth investigation of the pH-dependent synthesis between a (hydroxyl)carboxylate ligand (D-(-)-
quinic acid) and transition divalent and/or trivalent metal ions (M(II,III)) led to the isolation and
characterization of new binary compounds in the solid state and in solution. The new M(II,III)-
(hydroxy)carboxylate species were synthesized in aqueous solution under various molar ratios and different
bases. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR, UVVis,
EPR), magnetic studies, and X-ray crystallography. Potentiometric titrations were also carried out in
order to investigate the species distribution as a function of pH. Each new species was shown to contain
M(II,III) ions in an octahedral environment. The physicochemical profiles of all species, in the solid state
and in solution, earmark the importance of aqueous structural speciation, and project a) chemical reactivity
pathways in each binary M(II,III)-quinate system, involving various soluble M(II,III) forms, and b) clearly
emphasize the versatile nature of quinic acid.