Multimetallic salen complexes have found utility in a number of fields from materials chemistry to catalysis. The objective of this perspective is to discuss the development of new synthetic strategies to multitopic ligands based on Schiff base chemistry, and the isolation and study of the resulting metal complexes. Developments in catalysis, magnetism, electronic structure, and small-molecule sensing are presented demonstrating the considerable potential of these ligand constructs in facilitating new chemistry.