New methodology for the preparation of 3-hydroxy-2-pyridinone (3,2-HOPO) chelators—reaction of amines with a novel electrophilic 3,2-HOPO precursor

The preparation of the new electrophilic iminium ester mesylate salt 5 and its reaction with primary and secondary amines have been investigated. Aniline, t-butylamine, and secondary amines react with 5 via ring opening to give the corresponding HOPO derivatives in high yields. The usefulness of this methodology has been demonstrated by the preparation of two new di-HOPO derivatives 19 and 21. This method allows the introduction of the HOPO ligand onto a variety of amine platforms without the concomitant formation of an amide bond and provides access to HOPO chelators of increased water solubility.