Modulating water-exchange rates of lanthanide(III)-containing polyaminopolycarboxylate-type complexes using polyethylene glycol.

We have synthesized a series of Ln(III)-containing polyethylene glycol conjugates and studied the structural and electronic properties of these complexes. These studies demonstrate that polyethylene glycol can be used to fine-tune water-exchange rates of Ln(III)-containing polyaminopolycarboxylate-type complexes; this control is desirable in developing Ln(III)-containing contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging.