The reaction of Ni(OAc) 2 , NiX 2 (X=Cl, Br) or CoCl 2 with the proligand 2-amino-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (ampdH 2 ) affords a new family of tetranuclear complexes. The syntheses of [Ni 4 (OAc) 4 (ampdH) 4 ] (1) and [M 4 X 4 (ampdH) 4 ] (M=Ni, X=Cl, 2; M=Ni, X=Br, 3; M=Co, X=Cl, 4) are reported, together with the single crystal X-ray structures of 1, 2 and 4 and the magnetochemical characterization of 1, 3 and 4. Each member of this family of complexes displays a low symmetry structure that incorporates a {M 4 O 4 } core unit based on a distorted cubane. Magnetic measurements reveal ferromagnetic exchange interactions for 1, 3 and 4. These give rise to S=4 ground state spins for the tetranuclear Ni complexes and an anisotropic effective S′=2 ground state for the Co complex.