Highly selective binding and sensing of acetate over various monovalent inorganic anions (MeCO2−≫ H2PO4−> Cl−, Br−, I−, SCN−, NO3−, HSO4−, ClO4−) are achieved by N, N′- bis (p-nitrophenyl) thiourea as a hydrogen-bonding chromoionophore in 1% water–99% MeCN (v/v), and acetic acid in vinegar is successfully determined by the complexation- induced chromogenic response of this chromoionophore.
