Comparative study of the response of membrane electrodes based on calix[6]arene and calix[8]arene derivatives to organic ammonium ions.

p-tert-Butylcalix[8]arene-octaacetic acid octaethyl ester and calix[8]arene-octaacetic acid octaethyl ester well recognized 2-phenylethylamine and phenylalanine methyl ester compared with the corresponding calix[6]arene derivatives. Moreover, the calix[8]arene derivatives, especially one having tert-butyl groups, gave better selectivity against biologically active amines having a complicated structure, such as norephedrine. We considered the interaction between calixarenes and organic ammonium ions from the viewpoint of molecular symmetries.