A 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane (cyclen) variant bearing two thiosemicarbazone pendant groups has been prepared. The ligand forms complexes with Mn2+, Co2+ and Zn2+. X-ray crystallography of the Mn2+, Co2+ and Zn2+ complexes showed that the ligand provides a six-coordinate environment for the metal ions. The Mn2+ and Zn2+ complexes exist in the solid state as racemic mixtures of the Δ(δ,δ,δ,δ)/Λ(λ,λ,λ,λ) and Δ(λ,λ,λ,λ)/Λ(δ,δ,δ,δ) diastereomers, and the Co2+ complex exists as the Δ(δ,δ,δ,δ)/Λ(λ,λ,λ,λ) and Δ(λ,λ,λ,δ)/Λ(δ,δ,δ,λ) diastereomers. Density functional theory calculations indicated that the relative energies of the diastereomers are within 10 kJ mol−1. Magnetic susceptibility of the complexes indicated that both the Mn2+ and Co2+ ions are high spin. The ligand was radiolabelled with gallium-68, in the interest of developing new positron emission tomography imaging agents, which produced a single species in high radiochemical purity (>95%) at 90 °C for 10 min.

Several radiometals are of interest in the development of new a-emitting radiopharmaceuticals. This review highlights the role of coordination chemistry in the design of 225 Ac, 212/213 Bi, 212 Pb, 149 Tb, 227 Th, and 223/224 Ra radiopharmaceuticals to treat cancer. Several chelators have recently been developed that are addressing the specific requirements of each radiometal to provide outstanding radiolabelling and in vivo properties. These advances are supporting the momentum that is building around radiopharmaceuticals for targeted a therapy.