Self-assembly of tripyrazolate-linked macrotricyclic M12L4 cages with dimetallic clips

The self-assembly in aqueous solution of tripyrazolate trianion linkers (H3L = 1 and 2) with coordinated dimetallic clips leads to the formation of Pd12L4 cages with interior cavities of 1800 A(3) and 1500 A(3), respectively, confirmed by H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, cold spray ionization mass spectrometry (CSI-MS), and single-crystal X-ray analysis.