Highly efficient binding of trivalent f-elements from acidic media with a C3-symmetric tripodal ligand containing diglycolamide arms.

Tripodal chelates bearing three diglycolamide units precisely arranged on a triphenoxymethane platform were synthesized to mimic the preferred tricapped trigonal prismatic geometry favored by lanthanides with oxygen donor ligands, and the ligand binds heavier lanthanides very efficiently in acidic media.