Symbiotic and synergic effects in amide and ester derivatives of EDTA

The reaction of the dianhydride of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) with appropriate reagents (mainly amines and alcohols) is an easy synthetic route to obtain a variety of (from mono- to tetramer-) derivatives. Bis(imides) are also common derivatives. EDTA cannot be seen as a simple bridge or tether between the substituents as symbiosis and synergic phenomena are present in the new derivatives. EDTA increases the applications of the linked moieties by transferring its own characteristics, enhancing, for instance, the solubility of hydrophobic moieties or providing the chelating ability. Similarly, the substituents (among others: long alkyl chains, proteins, polymers, or moieties with applications in Supramolecular Chemistry) afford for applications of EDTA in new fields. In the new compounds, synergic cooperative effects, caused by the co-existence at the same entity of the moieties, may also be an expected consequence. Enzymes mimicry or scissor molecules are nice examples. © 2013 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.