Three unknown neutral thiosemicarbazone derivative receptors were synthesized in good yields. The binding properties of the receptors with anions such as F^－, Cl^－, Br^－, I^－, CH₃COO^－, C₃H₇COO^－, ClO₄^－ and NO₃^－ in acetonitrile were examined by UV-Vis and ¹H NMR spectroscopy methods. A clear color change was observed from colorless to light yellow upon addition of F^－, CH₃COO^－ or C₃H₇COO^－ to the solution of the three receptors in acetonitrile. The results showed that the three receptors had a better selectivity to F^－, CH₃COO^－ and C₃H₇COO^－, but no evident binding with Cl^－, Br^－, I^－, ClO₄^－ and NO₃^－, and the association constants followed the trend: F^－＞C₃H₇COO^－＞CH₃COO^－, while regularly the three receptors had different binding ability with the three anions because of the electronic effect. The UV-Vis data indicated that a 1∶1 stoichiometry complex was formed between compounds 3a, 3b, 3c and anions, while ¹H NMR titrations confirmed hydrogen interaction between the receptors and anions.

Key words: thiosemicarbazone, synthesis, anion recognition