Hydrogen-bonding ionophores for inorganic anions and nucleotides and theirapplication in chemical sensors

The potential and limits of hydrogen-bonding ionophores and their use in ch emical sensors are discussed. Several hydrogen-bonding bis-thiourea ionopho res have been found to complex inorganic anions, among them most strongly H 2PO4-. Using such ionophores, ion-selective electrodes for chloride and sul fate have been developed. Furthermore, hosts that bind nucleotides with up to five hydrogen bonds have been synthesized. They have been applied in nuc leotide selective electrodes, optodes and voltammetric sensors mimicking io n channels.