The　design　and　synthesis　of　artificial　receptors　capable　of　binding　and　sensing　anions　have　been　widely　explored　in　the　field　of　host-guest　chemistry.　Herein,　a　series　of　acyclic　ferrocene-based　imidazolium　receptors　3a~3e　were　designed　and　synthesized.　All　the　receptors　were　prepared　by　reactions　of　1-(ferrocenylmethylene)imidazole　1　with　corresponding　dibromides　in　solvent　under　refluxing,　followed　by　anion　exchanges　with　NH4PF6.　The　structures　of　all　the　products　were　determined　by　IR,　1H　NMR,　13C　NMR,　MS　and　elemental　analysis.　The　crystal　structure　3e　was　confirmed　by　X-ray　crystallography,　and　it　was　clear　that　molecules　were　linked　by　C-H…F　hydrogen　bonds　interactions.　The　interaction　between　these　receptors　and　various　anions　was　studied　by　electrochemical　measurements　and　1H　NMR　spectroscopy.　The　receptors　3a~3e　were　proven　to　be　highly　selective　and　sensitive　to　F-.　1H　NMR　titrations　demonstrated　that　the　receptors　and　anions　form　1:1　complex,　and　the　receptors　displayed　a　strong　(C-H)+…X-　in　anion　recognition.　Receptor　3c　was　the　most　effective　receptor　to　bind　with　fluoride　ion　compared　to　the　others.　©　2015　Chinese　Chemical　Society　&　SIOC,　CAS.