New polyaza tris-ferrocene and tris-2,2′-bipyridyl macrobicyclic cryptand molecules. Isolation of homo- and hetero-polymetallic zinc(II) and copper(I) cryptates containing externally coordinated ruthenium(III) cations

New multisite ligands containing either three peripherally linked ferrocene redox centres (L1,L3) or three externally orientated 2,2′-bipyridyl transition metal recognition sites (L2,L4) have been prepared and their homo- and hetero-polymetallic zinc(II) and copper(I) cryptates incorporating in the case of L2 and L4 externally coordinated ruthenium(II) cations have been isolated.