Conformational Change Forced by Cesium Ion Complexation in Crystal Violet Derivative Possessing Tris(monoaza-15-crown-5) Structure

A Crystal Violet derivative incorporating a tris(monoaza-15-crown-5) structure exhibits an anomalous absorbance change in the absorption spectrum of its acetonitrile solution, which was induced only by cesium ion but not by other alkali metal ions. A consideration about its complex conformation explains the cesium ion specificity and a molecular orbital calculation suggests the correlation between the conformation and absorbance.