Template synthesis and ligand design for f-metal ligands

Specific sequestering agents for lanthanide and actinide metal ions are being developed. One approach uses the metal ion as a template to hold ligand pieces together in synthesizing a complicated multidentate ligand. Applications of lanthanide complexes to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have led to the investigation by several laboratories of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) and its derivatives. The coordination isomers and geometries of these complexes will be discussed and a new approach to the design of oxo metal cation complexation (for UO22+) will be described