(N-PHENYL-AZA-CROWN)-ETHENYL-ACRIDINES - COMPLEXING CHROMOIONOPHORES AND PRECURSORS FOR DEEP BLUE COLORED HEMICYANINES

Aromatic aldehyde derivatives of N-phenyl-aza-15-crown-5 and N-phenyl- aza-18-crown-6 (1a-b) are condensed with 9-methylacridine to give yell ow phenyl-ethenylacridine derivatives 3a-b which are reversibly conver ted by protonation into deep blue colored hemicyanines. Using 9,10-dim ethylacridinium perchlorate in the condensation with the crown ether a ldehyde Ib the blue hemicyanine 6 is directly obtained. UV/VIS absorpt ion spectra of the basic/acidic forms of the acridine derivatives are presented. The complex formation of the crown ether derivatives with N a+ and K+ are studied using H-1-NMR and UV/VIS spectroscopy.