# Silicon-Bridged Bis(12-crown-4) Ethers as Ionophores for Sodium Ion-Selective Electrodes

## TL;DR

Scientists created a new sodium ion sensor material using silicon-bridged molecules that outperforms commercial alternatives in selectivity and stability.

## Contribution

A novel silicon-bridged bis(12-crown-4) ether ionophore with superior Na+ selectivity and electrode stability is synthesized and characterized.

## Key findings

- The ionophore shows a selectivity sequence of Na+ > K+ > Rb+ > Cs+ > NH4+ > Li+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > H+.
- The compound with two 2-ethylhexyl groups provides Na+ selectivity equal to or better than commercial ionophores.
- The electrode demonstrates better aging stability compared to another known Na+ ionophore.

## Abstract

A new Na+ ionophore with two 12-crown-4 moieties on silicon atoms and hydrophobic hydrocarbon groups on silicon atoms has been synthesized. The silicon-bridged bis(12-crown-4)s were easily obtained in high yield by simply mixing dichlorodiorganosilane and 2-hydroxymethyl-12-crown-4 under room temperature and nitrogen atmosphere. Seven compounds with different hydrocarbon substituents were synthesized. To investigate their properties as ionophores, PVC membrane-type ion-selective electrodes incorporating them were prepared, and the ion selectivity coefficients were determined. The typical selectivity sequence is Na+ > K+ > Rb+ > Cs+ > NH4+ > Li+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > H+. The magnitude of selectivity depends on the structures of hydrocarbon substituents on the silicon atoms. The compound with two 2-ethylhexyl groups has particularly good Na+ selectivity, and the performance of the electrode is equal to or better than that of an electrode using a commercially available Na+ ionophore, malonate-bridged bis(12-crown-4). The electrode also showed better-aging stability than that of another known Na+ ionophore, tetraethyl 4-tert-butylcalix[4]arene-O,O′,O″,O‴-tetraacetate, indicating high utility.