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 (
G![](/images/entities/deg.gif)
= -7.2 kcal/mol), with the assembly process allowing for another ligand to bind preferentially on the outer side.