A bridge to coordination isomer selection in lanthanide(III) DOTA-tetraamide complexes

A new ligand, 8[O.sub.2] 1,4,7,10-tetraazadodecane tetraacetic acid (DOTAM), is synthesized and its lanthanide complexes are examined as potential chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) agents. The analysis reveals that the increasing ionic radius of the lanthanide ion leads to an increase in the extent of the distortion, thereby leading to a complete loss of symmetry in the complex.