Tricyclic ligands on cyclam core and X-ray crystallographic structure of hexachloro-(1,11:4,8-bis(pyridine-2,6-diyl-bis(2-(N-(2-formidoylethylene)carbamoyl)ethylene))-1,8-diazonia-4,11-diazacyclotetradecane) - dimanganese(II) dimethanol dihydrate solvate

► Cyclam macrocycle can be functionalized by consecutive addition four methyl acrylates followed by condensation with ethylenediamine. ► The tetrafunctionalized cyclam condensates with 2,6-aryl-dialdehydes to form three isomeric tricyclic ligands. ► Manganese(II) incorporation into tricyclic ligand leads to dimanganese(II) complex and protonation of cyclam core. ► The dimanganese(II) complex is valuable synthon to obtain trinuclear mixed-metal-ion complexes.