We have prepared a series of dihydroxamates and their iron (III) complexes in view of obtaining new NMR imaging agents. Four new dihydroxamic acid ligands have been synthesized by condensation of 4-substituted-2,6-pyridine dicarboxylic acids with N-aminopropyl-N-acetylhydroxylamine, and the iron (III) complexes exhibit high stability over the pH range 3 to 7 and a binuclear structure Fe2L3 at pH7. The presence of two non-interacting paramagnetic centers per mole should allow a good compromise between an efficient relaxivity and limited toxicity. © 1990.