The synthesis of bis(benzo-crown ether)s and their incorporation into potassium-selective PVC membrane electrodes

Five bis(benzo-15-crown-5) derivatives connected with different bridge chains were synthesized as neutral carriers in K⁺-selective electrodes. Potassium ion-selective PVC membrane electrodes based on these bis(crown ether)s were prepared using dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and dioctyl phthalate (DOP) as plasticizers of the PVC membrane. The selectivity coefficients (K_Mⁿ⁺:K_K+) for various alkali and alkaline-earth metal ions were measured. The electrodes based on the bis(crown ether)s are more selective for K⁺ than those based on monomeric crown ethers. The selectivity of one of the prepared potassium selective electrodes was higher than that of the electrode based on valinomycin and three of them were stable over a wide pH range.