Pentanuclear cyanide-bridged clusters of the general formula {[M(tmphen)(2)](3)[M'(CN)(6)](2)} (tmphen = 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) have been under investigation in our laboratories for a number of years. These related molecules are conveniently prepared by a building block approach that involves the reaction of mononuclear {M(tmphen)(2)X-2)(0/2+) species (M = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn; X = anion, solvent) with [M'(CN)(6)](3-) anions (M' = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Os). The resulting trigonal-bipyramidal (TBP) clusters, consisting of M and M' centers in the equatorial and axial positions, respectively, exhibit diverse properties including those that had previously been observed only for Prussian blue extended phases; these properties include single-molecule magnetism, spin crossover, charge-transfer-induced spin transitions, cyanide linkage isomerism, and magnetic coupling through diamagnetic metal ions. Given that a series of clusters with identical axial cyanometallate units can be prepared, we have been able to establish trends in magnetic coupling for families of clusters with different equatorial metal ions. The crystal packing of the clusters, which involves supramolecular pi-stacking interactions, reveals the origin of the observed differences in the coordination environments and, in several cases, the physical properties of the metal ions in the equatorial sites. Recent work has focused on the use of these molecules as building blocks for magnetic chains and the incorporation of highly anisotropic 5d metal ions such as OSIII into the TBP core. Such comprehensive studies of small clusters are valuable for understanding and modeling the magnetic behavior of more complicated cyanide materials.