FUNCTIONALIZED AZA-CRYPTAND LIGANDS FOR IMAGING APPLICATIONS

The present invention provides new and structurally diverse compositions comprising compounds of the general formula: Wherein V is CR1 or N; W is CR2 or N; R1 and R2 may be the same or different and are hydrogen, C1-C8 alkyl, or C6-C10 aryl, optionally R1 and R2 may be substituted by one or more hydroxy, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 hydroxyalkyl, C1-C8 alkoxy, C6-C10 aryl, C6-C10 hydroxyaryl, C6-C10 aryloxy, -CO2R3, CONR4R5, or -NR4R5; X and Y may be the same or different and the O, NR6, S, or CR7R8; R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 may be the same or different and are hydrogen, C1-C8 alkyl, C1-C8 hydroxyalkyl, or C1-C8 alkoxyalkyl; R4 and R5 may form a 5 or 6 membered carbocyclic ring optionally containing singularly or in combination nitrogen, oxygen or sulfur; a, b, c, d and e may be same or different and are zero to about 10; and Z is -CO2H, -PO3H2, -SO3H, or -CONHOH. Methods for imaging using compositions of the invention as diagnostic imaging agents are also provided.