Synthesis and characterization of 7-deoxycholic amide backbone-based silver(I) ionophores

Four ionophores containing bipyridyl groups on a 7-deoxycholic amide derivative scaffold were designed and synthesized. Potentiometric evaluation of the Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membranes containing those deoxycholic amides bearing bipyridyl moieties with a short linkage showed good affinity to silver(I) ion over alkali, alkaline earth and other transition metal cations. However, two bipyridyl groups flexibly linked to the deoxycholic frame through a long linkage do not result in appreciable potentiometric responses.