Compounds of the 5 amino (ATCC) and 5 nitro 1,2,3,4 tetracyanocyclopentadienide (NTCC) ligand with iron(ii) and iron(iii), silver(i) and potassium(i) were prepared and characterized by electrochemical methods using EPR, cyclic voltammetry and Mossbauer spectroscopy as well as UV-Vis spectroscopy. The investigation sheds light on the free radical activity in non- as well as transition metal compounds, and shows signs of photoinduced electron transfer in transition metal compounds of the ligands. We characterized silver(i) and potassium compounds of the compounds via X-ray diffraction, with one of the structures exhibiting a porous coordination polymer.