Structural Rationalization of a Highly Selective Ammonium Ionophore

Abstract

The design and development of highly selective ammonium ionophores, which find important applications in the detection of ammonium ions in aqueous systems for clinical and environmental analyses, devolves to a large extent upon understanding the nature and selectivity of the binding formed between the ionophore and the ammonium ion. We report here the structural properties of the complex formed between the ammonium ion and TDB18C6, which has been shown previously to have high ammonium ion selectivity. The results provide a basis for understanding the successful action of this ionophore.