The synthesis of the new ligand L1(H4L1= 3,8,16,21-tetrakis(carboxylmethyl)-3,8,16,21,27,28-hexaazatricyclo[21.3.1.1(10,14)]octacosa-1(27),10,12,14(28),23,25-hexaen-5,18-diine) is reported. The solid-state structures of the four homodinuclear chelate complexes, [Zn2(L1)(H2O)2] x 6H2O, [Fe2(L1)(mu-O)] x 4H2O, [La2(L1)(NO3)2(H2O)2] x 6H2O and Na[Eu2(L1)(mu-AcO)3] x 3H2O, were determined by single-crystal X-ray structural analysis.