Building large supramolecular nanocapsules with europium cationsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed synthetic procedures, instrumentations, NMR titration spectra, ESMS spectrum of the [Eu4L34]12+ solution, the molecular structure of [Eu4L34]12+ and the crystal packing, 35Cl NMR spectrum, 1H NMR for the exchange with BF4. See DOI: 10.1039/c2cc17322k

A new tripodal ligand has been designed by connecting pyridine-based coordination units to a rigid triptycene moiety. Its reaction with europium( iii ) provides three-dimensional tetranuclear edifices, whose structural and photophysical characteristics as well as hostguest interactions are discussed in this contribution. New tetranuclear triptycene-derived complexes allow sensitising the Eu III luminescence in near-UV and possess a large internal cavity for guest accommodation.