Iron chelates analogous to o,o-
EDDHA/Fe(3+) are the
fertilizers chosen to treat
iron chlorosis in plants growing on calcareous soil. The isomer o,p-
EDDHA/Fe(3+) presents less stability but faster assimilation by the plant than o,o-
EDDHA/Fe(3+), because only five coordinating groups are able to complex Fe(3+). The new
chelating agent 2-(2-((2-hydroxybenzyl)amino)ethylamino)-2-(2-hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid (DCHA) has been synthesized to obtain an
iron fertilizer with intermediate stability between o,o-
EDDHA/Fe(3+) and o,p-
EDDHA/Fe(3+) and with fast assimilation. Its synthesis has been done starting from
phenol, N-acetylethylendiamine,
glyoxylic acid, and NaOH in a three-step sequence. The purity of the DCHA
chelating agent, its protonation, and Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Fe(3+), and Cu(2+) stability constants, together with its ability to maintain
iron in
solution in different agronomic conditions, have been determined. The results indicate that the chelate DCHA/Fe(3+) has intermediate stability between those of o,o-
EDDHA/Fe(3+) and o,p-
EDDHA/Fe(3+) complexes and that it is capable of maintaining the Fe(3+) in agronomic conditions. This new
chelating agent may be effective in correcting
iron chlorosis in plants.