Synthesis and iron chelating properties of hydroxypyridinone and hydroxypyranone hexadentate ligands

Abstract

Chelation therapy has become an important therapeutic approach for some diseases. In attempt to identify clinically useful chelators, four hexadentate ligands were synthesized by conjugating the corresponding bidentate ligands (3-hydroxypyridin-4-one (3,4-HOPO), 3-hydroxypyridin-2-one (3,2-HOPO), 1-hydroxypyridin-2-one (1,2-HOPO), and 3-hydroxypyran-4-one) each with a free amino group to a tripodal acid. Their pK_a values and affinities for iron(III) were investigated. The pFe³⁺ values of the hexadentate pyridinones 1 (3,4-HOPO), 3 (3,2-HOPO) and 4 (1,2-HOPO), and the pyranone 2 was found to follow the sequence 1 > 4 ≫ 3 > 2, which is different to the pFe³⁺ value sequence of the corresponding bidentate forms (3,4-HOPO ≫ 3,2-HOPO > 1,2-HOPO > 3-hydroxypyranone). Hexadentate 3,4-HOPOs and 1,2-HOPOs have the greatest potential as iron scavenging agents.