N-methylation of macrobicycles reduces encapsulation ability.

N-methylation alters the conformation of octa-azacryptands leaving them unable to use all potential N-donors to coordinate copper(II) and anionic guests. This restriction, in the presence of other donors, normally results in exogenous coordination, with the exception of carbonate complexes, where two O-donors from the bridging anion along with three N-donors from the cryptand serve, in this series uniquely, to retain a pair of copper(II) ions within the "basket-shaped" cavity.