Metal complexes of maltol and close analogues in medicinal inorganic chemistry

• Published in: Chemical Society reviews Vol. 35; no. 6; p. 545
• Main Authors: Thompson, Katherine H, Barta, Cheri A, Orvig, Chris
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 26.05.2006
• Subjects: Contrast Media - chemistry; Humans; Lanthanoid Series Elements - chemistry; Ligands; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Molecular Structure; Organometallic Compounds - chemistry; Organometallic Compounds - therapeutic use; Pyridines - chemistry; Pyrones - chemistry; Sensitivity and Specificity
• ISSN: 0306-0012
• DOI: 10.1039/b416256k

The family of hydroxypyrones and close congeners, the hydroxypyridinones, is a particularly versatile class of ligands. The most widely investigated for medicinal applications are the 3-hydroxy-4-pyrones and the 1,2- 3,2- and 3,4-hydroxypyridinones. Key features of these ligands are: a six-membered ring, with a ring N or O atom either ortho or para to a ketone group, and two ortho exocyclic oxygen atoms. Readily functionalizable, the hydroxypyrones and hydroxypyridinones allow one to achieve a range of di- and trivalent metallocomplex stabilities and can include tissue or molecular targeting features by design. Research over the past several decades has greatly expanded the array of ligands that are the subject of this critical review. Ligand applications as diverse as iron removal or supplementation, contrast agents in imaging applications, and mobilization of undesirable excess metal ions will be surveyed herein.