We have investigated Ag(I) mediated folding of a tridentate compound, containing three pyridine flaps tethered to a semirigid scaffold, intoa molecular basket, using both experimental and theoretical methods. The basket formation has been shown to be highly favorable in organicmedia (es/gifchars/Delta.gif" BORDER=0 >Ges/entities/deg.gif"> = -7.2 kcal/mol), with the assembly process allowing for another ligand to bind preferentially on the outer side.