Reaction of 5,6-dihydroxy-1,10-phenanthroline with various poly(ethylene)gl
ycol-ditosylates affords, in good yield, a series of ligands in which a phe
nanthroline binding site is attached to an adjacent crown ether unit; the N
N chelating site may be coordinated to {Ru(bipy)(2)}(2+) units to afford [R
u(bipy)(3)](2+) derivatives with pendant crown ether units, which can bind
alkali metal ions.