Assembly of a twin-cage complex containing a linear array of Pd-3

The M3L4 twin-cage complex [Pd-3(bitmb)(4)Cl-4]Cl-2. 2H(2)O . CH3CN [bitmb = 1,3-bis(imidazol-1-ylmethyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene] was obtained by assembly of three Pd(II) ions with four molecules of the new flexible ditoptic ligand bitmb; structural analysis showed that the complex contains two M2L2 cages with a cavity size of ca. 200 Angstrom (3).