Electrochemical recognition of charged species using quaternary ammonium binaphthyl salts.

The effects of ionic analytes on the electrochemical properties of quaternary ammonium binaphthyl salts are described in this work. The stability of the binaphthyl radicals and hence the reversibility of the electrochemical response are discussed in terms of molecular structure. The ability of azacrown derivatised binaphthyl salts to act as amperometric receptors is ascribed to the strain imparted in the cyclic ammonium ring when Li+ ions complex with them. It is also shown that the redox properties of quaternary ammonium binaphthyl salts are pH dependent in aqueous solutions, but that reversible redox properties can be observed in extremely basic solutions. The effect of anions binding to the quaternary ammonium cation can be seen in the redox properties of the binaphthyl moiety and the use of a chiral binding site for enantiomeric recognition is also demonstrated.