Crown ethers have often been reported as potential ionophores in alkal
i ion-selective electrodes. Several new lipophilic lariat crown ethers
possessing a variety of single and double side alkyl arm(s) were foun
d to act as lead-selective neutral carriers in liquid membrane electro
des. Lead was detected as a monovalent permeating species of the type
PbOH+. The obtained analytically relevant lead sensors show a high sel
ectivity with regards to other heavy metal ions, low detection limits
ranging between 10(-6) and 10(-7) mol/l and short response times.