Potentiometric Liquid Membrane Sensors That Discriminate Linear Homologs and Geometrical/Positional Isomers of Dicarboxylates

Abstract
Potentiometric discrimination of series of linear homologs (4-7), geometrical isomers (8,9), and positional isomers (10-12) of dicarboxylate guests by a liquid membrane sensor containing Iipophiiic macrocyclic polyamine 1 as a sensory element is described. the pH conditions were carefully set so that the potentiometric response to the dianionic forms of the guests could be specifically observed. Whereas only small discrimination was observed for the flexible linear homologs (4-7), marked discrimination was observed, for the geometrical isomers (8,9) and positional isomers (10-12) having rigid structures. the selectivities of the potentiometric response were found to correlate well with the reported selectivities of host-guest complexation in water displayed by macrocyclic polyamines having the structures related to 1.