Abstract: The compounds of the invention comprise the condensation product, as well as derivatives thereof, of two equivalents of a trimethyl cyclohexane-anhydride acid chloride derivative with one equivalent of an aromatic diamine. The scope of the invention includes the method of using the compounds of the invention as chelating agents for metals, metal ions or ions of metal complexes. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the binding moieties of the cyclohexane derivatives are rigidly held opposite each other, by restricting their rotation about the N-C aryl bonds, in order to more effectively bind the metals or the ions.

Abstract: The compounds of the invention comprise the condensation product, as well as derivatives thereof, of two equivalents of a trimethyl cyclohexane-anhydride acid chloride derivative with one equivalent of an aromatic diamine. The scope of the invention includes the method of using the compounds of the invention as chelating agents for metals, metal ions or ions of metal complexes. In a preferred embodiment of the invention the binding moieties of the cyclohexane derivatives are rigidly held opposite each other, by restricting their rotation about the N-C aryl bonds, in order to more effectively bind the metals or the ions.