Patent ID: 7018840

Claim:
A ligand for metal ions, comprising the following moiety: wherein: X is N; Q is O, S or Se; K is selected independently and optionally from the group consisting of halogen, azide, alkyl, aralkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkyl, hydroxyl, alkoxyl, amino, nitro, sulfhydryl, imino, amido, phosphonate, phosphinate, carbonyl, carboxyl, silyl, ether, alkylthio, sulfonyl, sulfonamido, ketone, aldehyde, ester, heterocyclyl, aromatic or heteroaromatic moieties, —CF 3 , and —CN; V is independently each a Lewis base capable of forming one or more coordination bonds with a metal ion, and in the case when m is 2, both V do not contain —CO 2 H disposed in a manner to allow for coordination of both of said —CO 2 H to a single metal ion; R1 is independently hydrogen, alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aryl, heterocycle or heterocycle; m is 1 or 2, and n is equal to (2−m); Y is O, S, Se, NR1, or C(CH 3 ) 3 ; and Z is N, HOOCCH 2 CH 2 C, HOOC—CH═CH—C, (2-carboxyphenyl)-C, (2-sulfophenyl)-C, (2-carboxy-3,4,5,6-tetrachlorophenyl)-C, (2-carboxy-4-nitrophenyl)-C, (2-carboxy-5-nitrophenyl)-C, (2-carboxy-4-aminophenyl)-C, (2-carboxy-5-aminoyphenyl)-C, (2,4-dicarboxyphenyl)-C, (2,5-dicarboxylphenyl)-C, (2,4,5-tricarboxyphenyl)C-, and other substituted (2-carboxyphenyl)-C moieties.