Chelation therapy has become an important therapeutic approach for some diseases. In attempt to identify clinically useful chelators, four hexadentate ligands were synthesized by conjugating the corresponding bidentate ligands (3-hydroxypyridin-4-one (3,4-HOPO), 3-hydroxypyridin-2-one (3,2-HOPO), 1-hydroxypyridin-2-one (1,2-HOPO), and 3-hydroxypyran-4-one) each with a free amino group to a tripodal acid. Their p K a values and affinities for iron( iii ) were investigated. The pFe 3+ values of the hexadentate pyridinones 1 (3,4-HOPO), 3 (3,2-HOPO) and 4 (1,2-HOPO), and the pyranone 2 was found to follow the sequence 1 > 4 > 3 > 2 , which is different to the pFe 3+ value sequence of the corresponding bidentate forms (3,4-HOPO > 3,2-HOPO > 1,2-HOPO > 3-hydroxypyranone). Hexadentate 3,4-HOPOs and 1,2-HOPOs have the greatest potential as iron scavenging agents. Chelation therapy has become an important therapeutic approach for some diseases.