A set of tetraaza macrocycles containing pyridine and methylcarboxylate (ac(3)py14) or methylphosphonate (MeP(2)py14 and P(3)py14) pendant arms were prepared and their stability constants with La3+, Sm3+, Gd3+ and Ho3+ determined by potentiometry at 25degreesC and 0.10 M ionic strength in NMe4NO3. The metal:ligand ratio for Sm-153 and Ho-166 and for ac(3)py14, MeP(2)py14 and P(3)py14, as well as the pH of the r...