CONTRAST AGENTS

The present invention relates to a class of compounds and to diagnostic compositions containing such compounds where the compounds are iodine containing compounds. More specifically the iodine containing compounds are chemical compounds containing two linked iodinated phenyl groups of the general formula wherein each R1 independently are the same or different and denotes a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C4 straight of branched alkyl group; each R2 independently are the same or different and denotes a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C4 straight of branched alkyl group; and each R3, R4 and R5 independently are the same or different and denote C1 to C6 straight of branched alkyl moieties substituted by 1 to 6 -OH groups. The invention also relates to the use of such diagnostic compositions as contrast agents in diagnostic imaging and in particular in X-ray imaging, and to contrast media containing such compounds.