Three N,N'-bis[p-(un)substitued] anilinothiocarbonyl]-m-phthalamide derivatives were designed as novel neutral anion receptors, and synthesized. The single crystal structure of compound R1 shows shat a solvent molecule was captured by the host interhydrogen bonding. Their application as anion receptors has been examined by UV-Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopies, indicating that they had a higher selectivity to F^－ than to other halide anions. The host and guest form a 1∶1 stoichiometry complex through hydrogen bonding interactions in the solvent of DMF, and the association constants are related with the electronic effect of the substituents with different bonding abilities. Results of ¹H NMR titration conformed the combination mode assumed above.

Key words: acyl thiourea, single crystal, molecular tweezer, anion recognition, hydrogen bond