Complexes of Gd, Eu and Yb (III) have been prepared with a series of heptadentate ligands related to the parent complex AAZTA, based on the 6-methyl-6-aminoperhydrodiazepine moiety. For (RR) and (RS)-diastereoisomers of a di-glutarate ligand, solution NMR studies revealed the presence of two major species that undergo water exchange rates at Gd differing by a factor of six. Comparison of solution hydration states for Eu (III) complexes ...