Ligands can be decomplexed by displacement with another ligand, e.g., a highly basic ligand or the use of high pressures of carbon monoxide.  Arenes are liberated from (arene)Cr(CO) with pyridine:  
:(arene)Cr(CO)  +  3 CHN   →   Cr(CO)(NCH)  +  arene
In this case Cr(CO)(pyridine) can be recycled.  Illustrative of this approach is the synthesis of (–)-steganone via a chromium haloarene complex.  The synthesis is completed by decomplexation, liberating the natural product.
1,4,7-Trithiacyclononane can be prepared within the coordination sphere of a metal, and then isolated by decomplexation.