The coordination chemistry of a saccharide-based ferrichrome analogue, 1-O-methyl-2,3,4-tris-O-[4-(N-hydroxy-N-methylcarbamoyl)-n-butyrate]-alpha-D-glucopyranoside (H3L), is reported, along with its pK(a) values, Fe(III) and Fe(II) chelation constants, and aqueous-solution speciation as determined by spectrophotometric and potentiometric titration techniques. The use of a saccharide platform to synthesize a hexadentate trihydroxamic acid chelator provides some advantages over other approaches to ferrichrome models, including significant water solubility and hydrogen-bonding capability of the backbone that can potentially provide favorable receptor recognition and biological activity. The pK(a) values for the hydroxamate moieties were found to be similar to those of other trihydroxamates. Proton-dependent Fe-III-H3L and Fe-II-H3L equilibrium constants were determined using a model involving the sequential protonation of the iron(III)- and iron(II)-ligand complexes. These results were used to calculate the formation constants, log beta(110) = 31.86 for (FeL)-L-III and 12.1 for (FeL-)-L-II. The calculated pFe value of 27.1 indicates that H3L possesses an Fe(III) affinity comparable to or greater than those of ferrichrome and other ferrichrome analogues and is thermodynamically capable of removing Fe(Ill) from transferrin. E-1/2 for the (FeL)-L-III/(FeL-)-L-II couple was determined to be -436 mV from quasi-reversible cyclic voltammograms at pH = 9, and the pH-dependent E-1/2 profile was used to determine the (FeL-)-L-II protonation constants.