The mixed-valence trinuclear cobalt compound {[Co(CN)3(tBuNC)2](μ-CN)[Co(tBuNC)4](μ-CN)[Co(CN)3(tBuNC)2]} is produced from the reaction of CoCl2 with KCN and tert-butylisocyanide. In the resulting structure two cobalt atoms formally show the oxidation state +III, whereas the central cobalt still exhibits the formal oxidation state +II. All cobalt atoms are octahedrally coordinated by cyanide and isocyanide ligands. The supramolecular structure is determined by C–HO and C–HN hydrogen bonds linking acetone molecules to the trimeric complex as well as connecting the complex units into infinite chains.