A “directed” approach toward a cationic molecular square containing four isonicotinamidate ligands and (4Â +Â 2) (en)PtII metal entities

► Mononuclear complexes of (en)PtII and (en)PdII and (iso)nicotinamide as precursors for metallacyclic species. ► Metallasquares: host-guest complex with PF6-. ► Metallasquares: dimer-of-dimer packing pattern as in PtII precursors of mixed-valence “platinum blues”.