A novel method for the synthesis of acyclic ligands with combined chelating groups

The synthetic methodology developed in this work provides a simple route to the acyclic versatile ligands with combined chelating groups. The approach involves three-step synthesis: the preparation of amide macrocyclic derivatives containing one type of chelating substituents, hydrolysis of macrocyclic compounds giving the acyclic derivatives with unsubstituted terminal amino groups and final modification of terminal amines by another type of chelating substituents. The obtained complexons combine chelating substituents of different nature and can be used for further studies with medical metal cations for use in radiopharmaceuticals.