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New synthetic routes are presented to derivatives of a (known) M₈L₁₂ cubic coordination cage in which a range of different substituents are attached at the C⁴ position of the pyridyl rings at either end of the bis(pyrazolyl-pyridine) bridging ligands. The substituents are (i) –CN groups (new ligand L^CN), (ii) –CH₂OCH₂–CCH (containing a terminal alkyne) groups (new ligand L^CC); and (iii) –(CH₂OCH₂)₃CH₂OMe (tri-ethyleneglycol monomethyl ether) groups (new ligand L^PEG). The resulting functionalised ligands combine with M²⁺ ions (particularly Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺) to give isostructural [M₈L₁₂]¹⁶⁺ cage cores bearing 24 external functional groups; the cages based on L^CN (with M²⁺ = Cd²⁺) and L^CC (with M²⁺ = Ni²⁺) have been crystallographically characterised. The value of these is twofold: (i) exterior nitrile or alkene substituents can provide a basis for further synthetic opportunities via ‘Click’ reactions allowing in principle a diverse range of functionalisation of the cage exterior surface; (ii) the exterior –(CH₂OCH₂)₃CH₂OMe groups substantially increase cage solubility in both water and in organic solvents, allowing binding constants of cavity-binding guests to be measured under an increased range of conditions.