Exposure of the solid zwitterion [CoIII(eta 5-C5H4COOH)(eta 5-C5H4COO)] to vapours of formic acid quantitatively produces the co-crystal [CoIII(eta 5-C5H4COOH)(eta 5-C5H4COO)] [HCOOH] without proton transfer from formic acid to the deprotonated -COO- group on the zwitterion; formic acid can be quantitatively removed by mild thermal treatment, regenerating the starting material.