Claims for Patent: 5,045,302

Summary for Patent: 5,045,302

Title:	Ligands and cationic complexes thereof with technetium-99m
Abstract:	This invention concerns novel bidentate ligands L having two phosphorus or arsenic atoms. Cationic complexes of the ligands with Technetium-99m, e.g. having the formula [TcO2 L2 ]+, are useful for body imaging, particularly myocardial imaging. The ligands have the general formula where Q is phosphorus orZ is a --CC-- or --CCC-- or --COC-- groups,the four groups Y are all C1-C8 saturated hydrocarbon or fluorohydrocarbon with 1-3 ether oxygen atoms.
Inventor(s):	James D. Kelly, Kwok W. Chiu, Ian A. Latham
Assignee:	GE Healthcare Ltd
Application Number:	US07/329,639
Patent Claims:	1. A ligand having the formula Y.sub.2 QZQY.sub.2 where each Q is phosphorus, Z is a --CC-- or --CCC-- chain or o-phenylene which may be substituted by C1-C3 alkoxy or alkoxyalkyl, the groups Y may be the same or different and each is a saturated hydrocarbon or saturated fluorohydrocarbon which contains from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and from 1 to 3 ether oxygen atoms, provided that the four groups Y together contain a total of at least 13 carbon atoms. 2. A ligand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the groups Y may be the same or different and each has the formula --[(CH.sub.2).sub.m --(CR.sup.1 R.sup.2).sub.1 --O].sub.n R.sup.3 where 1 is 0 or 1, m is 1 to 3, provided that (1+m) is 1 to 3, n is 1 or 2, where 1 is 0, R3 is --C2 H5 or i--C3 H7 or --CH2 --CHx F3-x where x is 0 to 2, or where l is 1, R1 and/or R2 is --CH3 or H and R3 is --CH3 or --C2 H5 3. A ligand as claimed in claim 2, where m is 1 to 3 and n is 1. 4. A ligand as claimed in claim 2, whereinQ is phosphorus, Z is --C2 H4 --, each Y is --C2 H4 OC2 H5. 5. A ligand as claimed in claim 1, wherein each group Y comprises a 5- or 6- membered alicyclic ring containing 1 or 2 ether oxygen atoms. 6. A ligand as claimed in claim 1, wherein each group Y has the formula: --C.sub.m H.sub.2m-1 ((CH.sub.2).sub.1 OR.sup.4).sub.2 where m is 1 to 3 l is 0 to 1, such that (l+m) is 1 to 3, R4 is C1 to C3 alkyl or fluoroalkyl. 7. A ligand as claimed in claim 1, wherein Q is a phosphorus, and the two groups Y attached to each Q are different and are selected from those having the formula --(CH.sub.2).sub.m O R.sup.5 where m is 1 to 3, and R5 is C1 to C4 alkyl or fluoroalkyl. 8. A cationic complex of technetium-99m with a ligand according to claim 1. 9. A complex as claimed in claim 8 having the formula [TcL2 X2 ]+ or [TcL2 O2 ]+ where L is the ligand and X is a monodentate ligand for Tc. 10. A complex as claimed in claim 8, having the formula [TcL2 O2 ]+ where L is a ligand having the formula (C2 H5 OC2 H4)2 P--C2 H4 --P(C2 H4 OC2 H5)2.