Selective synthesis of a heterotetranuclear complex from a macrocyclic ligand with multiple identical chelating units

Selective complexation of specific units in homooligomers is usually challenging due to their similar reactivity. We now report a heteronuclear complex using a macrocyclic ligand with four identical <i>ONO</i> chelating units, which was synthesized by selective coordination to molybdenum at two diagonal units, followed by palladium at the remaining units.