Functionalized polyamine chelants and rhodium complexes thereof and process for their preparation

Claim 1

A compound of the formula: wherein: each R independently represents a straight-­chained or branched alkylene group of 2 to 10 carbon atoms inclusive, with the proviso that for any two adjacent nitrogens connected by an R group, the R group must provide at least three single bonds between the nitrogens it connects; each R¹ independently represents hydrogen or a straight-chained or branched alkylene group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms inclusive; X and X¹ represent hydrogen, or X and X¹ taken together complete a bridging straight-chained or branched alkylene group of 2 to 10 carbon atoms inclusive or a bridging aralkylene group wherein the alkylene is a straight-chained or branched alkylene group of 2 to 10 carbon atoms inclusive, with the proviso that when X and X¹ are taken together the group it represents must provide at least three single bonds between the adjacent nitrogens it connects; n is an integer of 0 or 1, provided that when the L group is bonded to the same nitrogen atom, n must be 0, otherwise n must be 1; y is an integer of 1 through 3 inclusive; and L is a linker/spacer group covalently bonded to, and replaces one hydrogen atom of, any one of the nitrogen or carbon atoms, said linker/spacer group being represented by the formula wherein: s represents an integer of 0 or 1; t represents an integer of 0 through 20 inclu­sive; R² represents an electrophilic or nucleophilic moiety which allows for covalent attachment to an antibody or fragment thereof, or a synthetic linker which can be attached to an antibody or fragment thereof; and represents a cyclic aliphatic moiety, aromatic moiety aliphatic heterocyclic moiety, or aromatic heterocyclic moiety, each of said moieties optionally substituted with one or more groups which do not interfere with binding to an antibody or antibody fragment; provided that the compound of formula I is not 3-(4-­aminobutyl)-1,5,8,12-tetraazacyclotetradecane.