Formation of homo- and heteronuclear complexes of 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid with MnII and FeIII in aqueous solutions

Systems based on 1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonic acid (HEDP), iron(iii)—HEDP and manganese(ii)—iron(iii)—HEDP, were studied by pH-potentiometry combined with mathematical modeling and NMR. Diverse and highly stable heteronuclear iron manganese complexes were found to exist in the heteronuclear system. The formation of the MnH₃L₂^3–, FeMnH₃L₂⁰, Fe₂MnHL₃^3–, and MnL^2– complexes was established. The relaxation efficiency coefficient REC₂ (relaxivity) of these complexes was evaluated at ~2000 mol^–1 s^–1 L. Therefore, these systems hold promise as MRI contrast agents.