The synthesis of two tripodal iron chelating agents based on 8-hydroxyquinoline is described. The ligands consist of tris (2-aminoethylamine)(spacer) linked in 2-or 7-position to three 8-hydroxyquinoline units (allowing the complexation of iron). NMR study of these ligands in DMSO-d6 solutions evidence intramolecular H-bond networks inducing conformational changes in relation to the protonation state of the tertiary amine.
