Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Metal-Limited Growth of Neisseria gonorrhoeae for Characterization of Metal-Responsive Genes and Metal Acquisition from Host Ligands
Published on: March 4, 2020
Hydroxypyridinone Journey into Metal Chelation
Agostino Cilibrizzi1, Vincenzo Abbate1,2, Yu-Lin Chen1
1Institute of Pharmaceutical Science , King's College London , Stamford Street , London SE1 9NH , United Kingdom.
Abstract:
Hydroxypyridinones (HOPOs) form outstanding building blocks for the development of a variety of agents in the field of metal chelation. The pyridinone ring is easily synthesized and readily converted into tetradentate, hexadentate, and octadentate chelators. There is considerable potential for the control of the stereochemistry of the resulting metal complex and hence the properties of these multidentate molecules. Their ability to rapidly bind hard metals in aqueous media has facilitated the development of efficient applications in both biological and medical contexts. In this Review, an in-depth analysis of the synthetic methodologies for HOPO-based ligands is presented, as well as the many aspects to achieve optimal biological activity. Recent advances and current challenges for the future application of HOPO structures are outlined. The present flourishing development of drug candidates and diagnostic agents based on this chemical scaffold opens access to many new applications in analytical, environmental, and clinical science.
Related Concept Videos
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect
Bonding in Metals
Metallic Solids
All metallic solids exhibit high thermal and electrical conductivity, metallic luster, and malleability....
Alkali Metals
Table 1: Properties of the alkali metals
Properties of Transition Metals

