The synthesis of a range of novel bidentate and hexadentate ligands containing the chelating moiety 3-hydroxy-2(1H)-pyridinone is described. The pKa values of the ligands and the stability constants of their iron(III) complexes have been determined. The stability constant of the iron(III) complex of one of the hexadentate ligands is comparable to that of desferrioxamine B. The distribution coefficients of the ligands and their iron(III) complexes were also determined. One of the novel hexadentate compounds has been shown to markedly enhance iron(III) excretion from both hepatocytes and iron-overloaded mice.