Cyclic tetrameric complexes have been prepared by the reaction of Pd(en)Cl-2 or Pd(dapol)Cl-2, or their nitrato analogues, with Na-2(5'GMP) in aqueous solution, where en = 1,2-diaminoethane, dapol = 1,3-diamino-2-propanol, and 5'GMP = guanosine 5'-monophosphate. Addition of certain small molecules containing hydrophobic groups resulted in the expansion of the tetramer to a cyclic hexamer with strong bonding of one guest per hexameric host. At pH 5-6, the guest molecule can be a cation, anion, or neutral, and those species containing trimetylsilyl and t-butyl groups bonded the most strongly. The size of the central cavity of the [Pd(en)(5'GMP)](6) host has been estimated to be 5.2 angstrom. Formation of the host-guest complex caused a large upfield shift (Delta delta) of 2.5-2.9 ppm in the H-1 NMR spectrum of the most highly affected guest protons, which were those in closest proximity to the guanine nucleobases. NOESY spectra were used to determine the interaction sites between the host and the guest. Apparent association constants determined at 26 degrees C and pD 5.4 for the [Pd(en)(5'GMP)](6)-DSS and [Pd(en)(5'GMP)](6)-t-butanol systems, where DSS is 3-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propanesulfonate anion, were 1.36 +/- 0.11 x 10(4) and 2.74 +/- 0.95 x 10(4) M-3/2, respectively. The Pd(dapol)-5'GMP system forms hexameric host-guest complexes, similar in nature to those of the Pd(en)-5'GMP system. The molecular and crystal structures of Pd(dapol)Cl-2 are also reported.