Highly selective binding and sensing of acetate over various monovalent ino
rganic anions (MeCO2- much greater than H2PO4 > Cl-, Br-, I-, SCN-, NO3-, H
SO4-, ClO4-) are achieved by N,N ' -bis(p-nitrophenyl)thiourea as a hydroge
n-bonding chromoionophore in 1% water-99% MeCN (v/v), and acetic acid in vi
negar is successfully determined by the complexation-induced chromogenic re
sponse of this chromoionophore. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r
eserved.