An innovative MRI contrast agent based on the unprecedented and easily obtained ligand AAZTA is described. The simple and straightforward synthesis of the ligand, together with the potentiometric and relaxometric behavior of the corresponding Gd(III) chelate, is reported. The complex [Gd(AAZTA)]- shows outstanding magnetic properties connected with high thermodynamic stability in aqueous solution and a nearly complete inertness toward the influence of bidentate endogenous anions, placing this compound as one of the most promising candidates for the development of high performance MRI contrast agents.

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Two novel gadolinium(III) chelates based on the structure of the heptadentate macrocyclic 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (DO3A) ligand have been synthesized and their relaxometric and luminescent properties thoroughly investigated. They contain two water molecules in the inner coordination sphere in fast exchange with the bulk solvent and bear either a p-bromobenzyl or a p-phosphonatomethylbenzanilido substituent for promoting further interaction with macromolecular substrates. Upon interaction with human serum albumin the expected relaxation enhancement is not observed owing to displacement of the two inner-sphere water molecules of the complexes by a donor atom (likely from a carboxylate group) on the protein and possibly the phosphate anion of the buffered solution, respectively. We modeled the observed behavior by measuring the decrease of the relaxation rate of the water protons upon addition of malonate anion to aqueous solutions of the complexes. Conversely, no change in the hydratation state of the Gd(III) center for both complexes has been observed when the substrate for the formation of the macromolecular adduct is represented by poly-beta-cyclodextrin.

The heptadentate ligand 1,4-bis(hydroxycarbonylmethyl)-6-[bis(hydroxycarbonylmethyl)]amino-6-methylperhydro-1,4-diazepine (AAZTA) and its derivatives were recently reported to give stable complexes with Gd(3+) with superior efficiency as MRI contrast agents. Nevertheless, only preliminary data are available on the coordination behavior of this interesting ligand. In this work, thermodynamic and kinetic stability data are determined for the formation of complexes with AAZTA and the lanthanoid metal ions, and other divalent metal ions of interest for this application. The AAZTA ligand binds the lanthanoid ions with log K(ML) values of 17.53-21.85 with its affinity steadily increasing from La(3+) to Lu(3+), suggesting that the seven-membered skeleton is better suited to accommodate smaller metal ions. Even though the denticity is lower, the stability of the heavier lanthanoid complexes is comparable to those of the classical ligand diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA). The transmetalation reactions of [Gd(AAZTA)](-) with Cu(2+) and Eu(3+) predominantly occur through proton-assisted dissociation of the complex. The role of the direct attack of Cu(2+) or Eu(3+) in the exchange reactions is limited, although the formation of dinuclear complexes decreases the proton-assisted dissociation. Near physiological conditions, [Gd(AAZTA)](-) is significantly more inert than [Gd(DTPA)](2-), allowing its potentially safe use as contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging.

The synthesis of three triazamacrocycles containing the pyridine moiety and three acetate pendant arms (PCTA) is reported. The three systems differ due to the number of carbon atoms in the macrocyclic ring forming ligands PCTA-[12], -[13], and -[14], endowed with different coordination capabilities toward lanthanide(III) ions. Microscopic protonation sequences for the three ligands have been investigated by (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Complexes of PCTA-[12], -[13], and -[14] with La(III), Gd(III), and Lu(III) have been prepared. Relaxometric measurements on the aqueous solutions of the paramagnetic Gd(III) complexes in the presence of competitive ligands gave the following stability constants: log K(f) = 20.8 for Gd-PCTA-[12], log K(f) = 19.3 for GdPCTA-[13], and log K(f) = 12.5 for GdPCTA-[14]. The measurement of water relaxation rates indicated a tendency to decrease the degree of hydration upon increasing the ring size. The VT (1)H and (13)C-NMR spectra of the diamagnetic La(III) and Lu(III) complexes exhibit a large variability of the solution structures dictated by the matching of the size of the lanthanide ion and the macrocyclic cavity. This results in noticeable differences in their stereochemical nonrigidity, hydration state, and thermodynamic stability. To some extent the changes observed in continuing from the 12-14-membered ring macrocyclic complexes parallels the behaviors shown by the octacoordinated lanthanide(III) complexes with DOTA and TETA. GdPCTA-[12] and -[13] feature promising properties in view of their possible use as contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging.

Bifunctional chelating agents (BFCAs) are molecules which contain two different moieties: a strong metal chelating unit and a reactive functional group. The latter is directed to react with amines, thiols, alcohols or other reactive molecules to form stable covalent bonds while the chelating moiety is able to strongly coordinate a metal ion. In this way, it is possible to label a molecule of interest (e.g. an antibody or a peptide) with a metal or a radioactive metal ion. Of all the ligands reported so far, those based on a polyamino polycarboxylic structure are most efficient and are widely employed for the chelation of metal ions. The resulting metal complexes have found a broad range of applications in chemistry, biology and medicine. Diagnostic imaging (MRI, SPECT, PET), molecular imaging, tumour therapy and luminescent materials are only a few examples. The present critical review gives an overview of the syntheses and most important applications of polyamino polycarboxylic BFCAs (334 references).

A detailed study of the structures, thermodynamic stabilities and kinetics of the dissociation of Ga3+, In3+ and Cu2+ complexes formed with the heptadentate ligand AAZTA is reported. The stability constants (log KML) of the AAZTA complexes of Ga3+, In3+ and Cu2+ are 22.18, 29.58 and 22.27, respectively, which suggests that the seven‐membered‐ring skeleton is suited to the accommodation of these metal ions. The solid‐state structure of [Cu(H2AAZTA)]·H2O shows a distorted octahedral coordination. The equatorial coordination sites of Cu2+ are occupied by one of the ring N atoms, a water O atom, one of the carboxylate O atoms and the N atom of the iminodiacetate moiety. The other ring N atom and the carboxylate O atom of the iminodiacetate moiety coordinate to the Cu2+ in the axial positions. In the pH range 4.5–8.5, Ga3+ is present in the form of the highly stable [Ga(AAZTA)OH]2– (log βGaLH–1 = 17.69) The exchange reactions of [Ga(AAZTA)OH]2– with Cu2+ and transferrin are very slow and mainly occur through the spontaneous dissociation of the complex close to physiological conditions. The half‐life for the dissociation of [Ga(AAZTA)OH]2– is t1/2 = 23 h at pH = 7.5 and 25 °C in 0.025 M NaHCO3 and 0.15 M NaCl. The high conditional stability, fast formation and sufficiently slow dissociation of [Ga(AAZTA)OH]2– represent promising properties for the complexation and diagnostic applications of radioactive Ga isotopes.