Abstract: Novel magnetic resonance imaging agents methods utilize complexes of paramagnetic ions with alkoxyalkylamide deriviatives of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid ("DTPA") or ethylenediaminetetyraacetic acid ("EDTA"). These novel imaging agents are characterized by excellent NMR image-contrasting properties and by high solubilities in physiological solutions.The complexes are represented by the following formula: ##STR1## wherein A is --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 -- or ##STR2## and M.sup.+Z is a paramagnetic ion of an element with an atomic number of 21-29, 42-44 or 58-70, and a valence number, Z, of 2 or 3; R.sup.1 is --O.sup.- or R.sup.3 --N--R.sup.2, R.sup.2 is --(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O).sub.n --R.sup.4, n is 1-10, R.sup.4 is alkyl or aryl, R.sup.3 is H, R.sup.2, alkyl, hydroxy, alkoxy, cycloalkyl or aryl, wherein Z of the R.sup.1 groups are --O.sup.- and the remainder of the R.sup.1 groups are R.sup.2 -N--R.sup.3 groups.