NEW CLASS OF LITHIUM ION-SELECTIVE CROWN-ETHERS WITH BULKY DECALIN SUBUNITS

Didecalino-14-crown-4 and decalino-14-crown-4 respectively show excell ent extractability and high transport selectivity toward lithium ion. Decalino-14-crown-4 exhibits 1:1 (crown ether:cation mole ratio) stoic hiometry on complexation with lithium and sodium ions, while benzo-14- crown-4 gives 1:1 complex with lithium ion and 2.1 complex with sodium ion. An electrode based on decalino-14-crown-4 shows the highest Li+/ Na+ selectivity. Tetradecyldecalino-14-crown-4 is found to be the most practically valuable ionophore for lithium ion-selective electrode.