Chelating Tendencies of Bioactive Aminophosphonates

The metal-binding abilities of a wide variety of bioactive aminophosphonates, from the simple aminoethanephosphonic acids to the rather large macrocyclic polyaza derivatives, are discussed with special emphasis on a comparison of the analogous carboxylic acid and phosphonic acid systems. Examples are given of the biological importance of metal ion - aminophosphonate interactions in living systems, and also of their actual and potential applicability in medicine.