A Highly K(+) -Selective Fluorescent Probe - Tuning the K(+) -Complex Stability and the K(+) /Na(+) Selectivity by Varying the Lariat-Alkoxy Unit of a Phenylaza[18]crown-6 Ionophore.

A desirable goal is to synthesize easily accessible and highly K(+) /Na(+) -selective fluoroionophores to monitor physiological K(+) levels in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, highly K(+) /Na(+) -selective ionophores have to be developed. Herein, we obtained in a sequence of only four synthetic steps a set of K(+) -responsive fluorescent probes 4, 5 and 6.