The interaction between a series of bidentate, amide-functionalised 8-oxyquinoline receptors and coordinating anions is investigated. Anion recognition properties and conformations were studied by solid-state structures, Hartree–Fock calculations and solution- phase 1H NMR investigations. Our findings suggest that the amide-oxyquinoline motif coordinates anions and water with a well-defined, consistent geometry involving multiple ...