The present invention is directed to metal chelating conjugates for use as metallopharmaceutical diagnostics or therapeutic agents. Specifically, conjugates of the present invention include a carrier, a metal coordinating moiety, and a urea linkage chemically linking the metal coordinating moiety to the carrier. The carrier is generally utilized for targeting the conjugate to a biological tissue or organ.
Improved methods for synthesizing bifunctional chelates of tetraazamacrocycle derivatives and intermediates thereof are disclosed as well as novel tetraazamacrocycle derivatives and intermediates thereof.