The coordination chemistry of 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid (H4DOTA): Structural overview and analyses on structure–stability relationships

1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane-N,N′,N″,N′″-tetraacetic acid (DOTA) is one of the preeminent carriers of metal-based radiopharmaceutics and imaging contrast agents. This review focuses on the coordination chemistry of metal–DOTA complexes with a view to addressing the variability of structures obtained and gaining insight into its diversity. Correlations on thermodynamic stabilities with structural motifs are reported. Observed trends are analyzed with a view to providing a structure–stability relationship.