Abstract Three new proton-ionizable macrocyclic polyether ligands containing the 4- pyridone subcyclic group have been prepared. Two of these ligands contain lipophilic n- octyl substituents, the other ligand contains a phenyl substituent. The 15-crown-5 ligand containing both a 4-pyridone subcyclic unit and an n-octyl substituent selectively transported lithium cations in a water-methylene chloride-water bulk liquid membrane system. Five ...