Modulation of Water Exchange in Europium(III) DOTA−Tetraamide Complexes via Electronic Substituent Effects

Abstract

The chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) efficiency for a series Eu³⁺-based tetraamide complexes bearing p-substituents on a single coordinating pendant arm is highly sensitive to water exchange rates. The CEST effect increases in the order Me < MeO < F ∼CO₂^tBu < CN ≪ H. These results show that CEST contrast can be modulated by changes in electron density at a single ligating atom, and this forms the basis of creating imaging agents that respond to chemical oxidation and reduction.