Efficient and tunable synthesis of new polydentate bifunctional chelating agents using click chemistry

Abstract Two novel bifunctional chelating agents, which are bistriazole-based polyaminocarboxylic acids, have been designed and synthesised in high yields. An elegant synthetic approach using the Cu-catalysed azide–alkyne cycloaddition has been developed. This convenient route could be employed for the synthesis of a variety of polydentate bifunctional chelators.