Aminocarboxylic acids and derivatives thereof.

摘要

There are provided chelating agents particularly useful for the preparation of diagnostic and therapeutic agents for magnetic resonance imaging, scintigraphy, ultrasound imaging, radiotherapy and heavy metal detoxification, said agents being compound of formula (wherein each X may independently represent a carboxyl group or a derivative thereof or a group R1; each group R1 may independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxylalkyl group, an optionally mono- or polyhydroxylated alkoxy or alkoxyalkyl group; n, m, q, r are each 2, 3 or 4, with the provisos that at least two nitrogens carry a -CHR1X moiety, wherein X is a carboxyl group or a derivative thereof, that each -CHR1X moiety represents other than a methyl group, that at least one -R1 group represents other than hydrogen and that where all but one -CHR1X groups are -CH2COOH, then the remaining -CHR1X group may not represent a hydroxyethyl, 2-hydroxypropyl or 2,3-dihydroxypropyl group) or a salt or metal chelate thereof.