DOTA (chelator)
chemical compound
DOTA (also known as tetraxetan) is an organic compound with the formula (CH2CH2NCH2CO2H)4. The molecule consists of a central 12-membered tetraaza (containing four nitrogen atoms) ring. DOTA is used as a complexing agent, especially for lanthanide ions. Its complexes have medical applications as contrast agents and cancer treatments.
Terminology
The acronym DOTA (for dodecane tetraacetic acid) is shorthand for both the tetracarboxylic acid and its various conjugate bases. In the area of coordination chemistry, the tetraacid is called H4DOTA and its fully deprotonated derivative is DOTA4−. Many related ligands are referred to using the DOTA acronym, although these derivatives are generally not tetracarboxylic acids or the conjugate bases.
The "tetra-" prefix in tetraxetan indicates the four nitrogen atoms in the macrocycle and the four acetic acid arms in the DOTA structure, while "xetan" is a standard suffix for chelators.
Structure
DOTA is derived from the macrocycle known as cyclen. The four secondary amine groups are modified by replacement of the N−H centers with N−CH2CO2H groups.
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