Abstract A new hexadentate chelator was synthesized by the functionalization of 8- hydroxyquinoline to its 2-carboxy-N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester and subsequent condensation with tris (2-aminoethyl) amine to givetris-N-(2-aminoethyl-[8-hydroxyquinoline- 2-carboxamido]) amine. This molecule is a siderophore analog with a non-naturally occurring binding unit comprising a combination of both oxygen and nitrogen donor atoms.