Tris(pyrone) chelates of Gd(III) as high solubility MRI-CA

A new class of pyrone-derived tripodal chelators that form stable and soluble Gd(super 3+) complexes with high relaxivity for use as magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents (MRI-CAs) is described. The compounds are among the most soluble with a q=2 value, and one of them can be readily and economically synthesized from the food additive maltol.