It belongs to a class of bis(dimethylglyoximato)cobalt(III) complexes with different axial ligands, called cobaloximes.

[1] Chloro(pyridine)cobaloxime is a yellow-brown powder that is sparingly soluble in most solvents, including water.

With acids, the products of decomposition are dimethylglyoxime, cobalt salts, and pyridine; with bases, derivatives of other cobaloximes are formed, usually with the release of chloride ions.

[3] The compound is usually prepared by mixing cobalt(II) chloride, dimethylglyoxime and pyridine in an ethanolic solution.

However, since the dimethylglyoxime ligands contains two acidic H atoms in the oxime group, the Grignard reagent must be used in three-fold excess to compensate the loss.