Chromogenic crown ether reagents for spectrophotometric determinations of sodium and potassium

Crown ethers carrying a phenolic group, 2-hydroxyphenoxymethyl-15-crown-5 and -18-crown-6, were synthesized. Introduction of nitro groups in the 3- and 5-positions of the aromatic nucleus or introduction of a 4-nitrophenylazo group in the 5-position gives a series of chromogenic reagents suitable for the extraction spectrophotometry of sodium and potassium. Sodium in human blood serum was successfully determined by using the (2-hydroxy-3,5-dinitrophenyl)oxymethyl-15-crown-5 reagent. The molar absorptivity of the sodium complex is 14 000 l mol^-1 cm^-1 at 423 nm.