The synthesis and physicochemical properties of a range of 2- and 6-amido-3-hydroxypyridin-4-ones are described. All the amido-substituted 3-hydroxypyridin-4-ones have lower pK(a) values than 1,2-dimethyl-3-hydroxypyridin-4-one (deferiprone). This is due to the inductive effect of the amido group. Furthermore, the pK(a) values of the 3-hydroxy group in 1-nonsubstituted pyridinones are dramatically lower than those of the corresponding 1-alkyl analogues, indicating that a strong hydrogen bond exists between the 2-amido function and the 3-oxygen anion, which stabilises the anion. As a result of the decreased competition with protons, the pFe(3+) values of this group of molecules are higher than that of deferiprone. The distribution coefficients of these molecules are also increased despite the lack of a hydrophobic 1-alkyl substituent and this is ascribed to the intramolecular hydrogen bond. X-ray diffraction studies confirm the existence of the intramolecular hydrogen bond.

Bidentate chelators such as hydroxypyridinones and hydroxypyranones are highly iron selective. The synthesis of two novel fluorescent probes N-[2-(3-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-oxopyridin-1(4H)-yl)ethyl]-2-(7-methoxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)acetamide (CP600) and N-[(3-hydroxy-6-methyl-4-oxo-4H-pyran-2-yl)methyl]-2-(7-methoxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl)acetamide (CP610) is reported. The method involves coupling the bidentate ligands, 3-hydroxypyridin-4-one and 3-hydroxypyran-4-one, with the well-characterised fluorescent probe methoxycoumarin. Fluorescence emission of both probes at 380 nm is readily quenched by Fe(3+). The fluorescence was quenched to a greater extent by Fe(3+) than by Mn(2+), Co(2+), Zn(2+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Na(+) and K(+) and to approximately the same extent as Cu(2+). Comparison of the fluorescence-quenching ability by a range of metal ions on CP600 and CP610 and the hexadentate chelator, calcein, under in-vitro conditions, demonstrated advantages of the two novel fluorescent probes with respect to both iron(III) sensitivity and selectivity. Chelation of iron(III) by CP600 and CP610 leads to the formation of a complex with a metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:3. Fluorescence is quenched on formation of such complexes. These probes possess a molecular weight less than 400 and thus they are predicted to permeate biological membranes by passive diffusion, and have potential for reporting intracellular organelle labile iron levels.