Direct synthesis and characterization of endohedral zinc(II) hemicryptophane complex

[Display omitted] •CTG-based tripodal ligand which had triethylene glycol spacers and quinolinols was synthesized.•An endohedral Zn(II) hemicryptophane complex was directly synthesized from the CTG-based tripodal ligand.•The Zn(II) hemicryptophane complex encapsulated choline within the cavity. Endohedral metal hemicryptophanes are attractive metal complexes with secondary coordination sphere models. Here, an endohedral Zn(II) hemicryptophane complex is directly synthesized using a triethylene glycol chain as a moderate length spacer between the cyclotriguaiacylene (CTG) and quinolinol units of the novel tripodal ligand. The guest of choline was encapsulated within the cavity of Zn(II) hemicryptophane complex.