Crown ethers derived from 2,7-dihydroxyacridine and 2, 7-dihydroxyacidan-9-one

4,4'-dimethoxy-9-chloroacridine helps prepare various acridine-crown ethers that contain one or two acridine rings connected by poly(ethylene glycol) chains. Multinuclear NMR and X-ray studies help characterize the products. The observed chemical shifts reveal a correlation with the chain conformation and with the acridan-9-one ring's tautomerism. Kinetics of complexation and decomplexation of these crown ethers reveal the properties of various acridine crown ethers.