This aldehyde was subsequently reacted with RCC1 via aminal formation to form an ionic liquid-functionalised cage [RCC1-IM][NTf2]6. Unlike other structurally analogous reduced cages, such as RCC3 formed using the highly pre-configured and rigid trans-1,2-cyclohexanediamine, RCC1 is synthesised using flexible ethylenediamine, which enables the cage vertices in RCC1 to invert. The increased flexibility of RCC1 enables the amine cage to react with larger aldehyde derivatives that are then subsequently arranged on the periphery of the cage. Characterisation by 1 H NMR spectroscopy (Fig. ), matrixassisted laser desorption/ ionisation time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (Fig. ), and elemental analysis, confirmed the formation of the six-fold tied [RCC1-IM][NTf2]6 (Table ). In particular, MALDI-TOF confirmed the predominant formation of the six-fold tied species with NTf2 counterions -a mass ion corresponding to the [M-NTf2] + was observed (calc. 3577.89; found 3578.08), alongside the mass ion of the NTf2 counterions in negative ionisation mode calc. 279.92; found 279.89). In addition, elemental analysis confirmed that a high-purity sample was obtained.