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Updated: Jul 31, 2026

Preparation, Purification, and Characterization of Lanthanide Complexes for Use as Contrast Agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: July 21, 2011
Excitement in f block: structure, dynamics and function of nine-coordinate chiral lanthanide complexes in aqueous
1Department of Chemistry, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK. david.parker@durham.ac.uk
Abstract:
Lanthanide complexation chemistry has been studied intensively over the past 15 years and progress has been stimulated by the advent of well-defined, kinetically robust systems tailored to applications as bioactive probes for magnetic resonance and luminescence. In this tutorial review, the extent to which an enhanced understanding of the relationship between complex structure and spectral properties is emerging is discussed, together with an examination of the mechanism of ligand exchange processes. Such issues are aiding the development of responsive probes, ranging from simple sensors to more complex studies defining water structure and exchange dynamics.
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