A new series of 5-aryl-2-furoyl thiosemicarbazides have been designed and synthesized. Their structures have been confirmed by 1H NMR, IR spectra and elemental analysis. The binding properties of the receptors with anions such as F－, Cl－, Br－, I－, CH3COO－, and in DMSO and DMSO/H2O solvents were investigated by UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results showed that the receptor had a better selectivity for F－, CH3COO－ and . A clear color change was observed from colorless to light yellow upon addition of F－, CH3COO－, or . It could be efficiently mode tuned by increasing water content to recognize of the role of the selective control capability. The 1H NMR titrations confirmed hydrogen bonding interactions between the receptors and anions.

Key words: furoyl thiosemicarbazide, anion recognition, hydrogen-bond interaction, deprotonation