Compounds with chelation affinity and selectivity for first transition series elements: use in medical therapy and diagnosis

Compounds of the formula:

• wherein,
• t, u and v are each independently 2 or 3;
• w is an integer of from 1 to 4;
• R12 and R13 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkenoxy, alkenylthio, aryloxy, arylthio, alkyl interrupted by one or more oxa, alkenyl interrupted by one or more oxa, alkyl interrupted by thia, alkenyl interrupted by thia, aryloxyalkyl, alkoxyaryl, aminoalkyl, aminoalkenyl, aminoaryl, aminoarylalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkenyl, hydroxyaryl, hydroxyarylalkyl, halogen substituted versions thereof;
• R11 is a member selected from the group consisting of R12, R13 and radicals of formula:
• wherein,
• R41, R42 and R43 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkenoxy, alkenylthio, aryloxy, arylthio, alkyl interrupted by oxa, alkenyl interrupted by oxa, alkyl interrupted by thia, alkenyl interrupted by thia, aryloxyalkyl, alkoxyaryl, aminoalkyl, aminoalkenyl, aminoaryl, aminoarylalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkenyl, hydroxyaryl, hydroxyarylalkyl, and halogen substituted versions thereof;
• R44 is a member selected from the group consisting of H, hydroxy, amino, alkyl, alkyl interrupted by oxa, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxyalkyl, alkoxyaryl, and halogen substituted versions thereof;
• n is zero or 1;
• and
• X is a member selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkoxy, alkylthio, alkenoxy, aryloxy, arylthio, alkyl interrupted by one or more oxa, alkenyl interrupted by one or more oxa, alkyl interrupted by one or more thia, alkenyl interrupted by one or more thia, aryloxyalkyl, alkoxyaryl, aminoalkyl, aminoalkenyl, aminoaryl, aminoarylalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkenyl, hydroxyaryl hydroxyarylalkyl, halogen substituted versions of each of the above, and radicals selected from the group consisting of:
• wherein
• R41, R42, R43 and R44 are each independently as described above;
• R46 and R47 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl and aryl, or taken together form a divalent linking group between the atoms to which they are attached, thereby forming a ring structure;
• R48 and R49 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, aryl, alkoxy, alkyl interrupted by oxa, aryloxyalkyl, alkoxyaryl, and halogen substituted versions thereof;
• R50, R51 and R52 are each independently selected from the group consisting of H, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, arylalkyl, alkyloxy, alkylthio, alkenyloxy, alkenylthio, aryloxy, arylthio, aminoalkyl, aminoalkenyl, aminoaryl, aminoarylalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, hydroxyalkenyl, hydroxyaryl, and hydroxyarylalkyl;
• and m is an integer of from 1 to 3;
• and wherein at least two of said R11 groups comprise at least two contiguous carbon atoms directly attached to nitrogen atoms and the carbon atom in a position β to the nitrogen atom is substituted with a hydroxy and at least one member selected from the group consisting of hydroxymethyl, alkoxymethyl, alkenoxymethyl, aryloxymethyl and combinations thereof;
• and wherein, optionally, any two of R11, R12, and R13 are combined to form a ring structure;
• and dimers thereof, said dimers being formed by the covalent attachment of two compounds of formula (I) through a linking group having from 1 to 6 carbon atoms;
• and physiological salts thereof, with the proviso that the molecular weight of said compound does not exceed 2000.