SummaryIncorporation of the lipophilic Co(I1I)-cobyrinate octadecyl-cobester 1 and of its ionic aqua-cyano perchlorate derivative 2 into poly(viny1 chloride)/bis(l-butylpentyl) adipate liquid membranes induces a selectivity, measured potentiometrically, of about lo3 for SCN-and NO; with respect to Cl-, but only of about 4 for C10; us. C1-. This is in contrast to classical anion-exchanger membranes, which exhibit a selectivity sequence C10; > SCN->> NO; > C1-in accordance with the Hofmeister series. The Co(1II)-corrins 1 and 2, when components in solvent polymeric membranes, undergo exchange of axial ligands and behave as highly selective carriers for SCN-and NO;.An anion-selectivity sequence with a preference for lipophilic and a rejection of hydrophilic anions [ 11 is characteristic of liquid membranes based on various classical anion exchangers [2] such as quarternary ammonium salts or metal-phenanthrolinates (Hofmeister series [3]). For dissociated anion exchangers, where the complexation between the cationic sites and the counterions is negligible, the anion selectivity is controlled by the distribution coefficients of the anions between the aqueous sample phase and the membrane phase [1] [4]. A different behaviour is expected for associated anion exchangers. In this case, the parameters determining the selectivity strongly depend on the stability constants of the complexes of the exchanger sites with the counterions, provided that the mobilities of these sites are large compared to those of the counterions [1][4]. During our search for components with a selective interaction between cationic sites and counterions, vitamin B,, and its derivatives appeared as promising candidates. This was supported by the available information on their complexation behaviour towards anionic ligands in aqueous solutions [5]. For exploratory potentiometric studies on anion-selective properties of vitamin B,, derivatives in membranes, the lipophilic Co(II1)-complex 1 was prepared. This was followed by the synthesis of 2 and 3, which were used for an evaluation of structural effects and for comparison with Rktey's cholestano-cobaloxime 4 (chlorobis(cholestane-2,3-dione dioxime)pyridinecobalt) [6]