Facile synthesis of substituted nitrilotriacetamides

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4039(93)88040-P

Ligands which contain multiple amide groups represent interesting possibilities as chelating agents. We report here a facile synthesis and crystal structure of nitrilotriacetamide, 2, a neutral tetradentate ligand which we have been studying for metal complexation. Also described herein is a divergent synthesis of the mono-, di- and trimethylated and dimethyl-monoalkyl derivatives of 2.