Abstract Two 2,6-pyridinedicarboxamide derivatives containing arylboronic acid fragments were prepared and fully characterized including X-ray crystal diffraction analysis of a pinacol ester. These compounds are potential bifunctional receptors for sugars and anions. Acid dissociation and stability constants for complexation of both receptors with glucose and fructose were determined by potentiometric titrations in aqueous DMSO. Also, binding of alizarin red S indicator was studied spectrophotometrically and a highly sensitive detection of fructose by an indicator displacement assay was proposed. Complexation with anions was studied by ¹H NMR titrations in DMSO-d ₆. Binding of acetate anion occurs only via hydrogen bonding to OH groups of boronic acid fragments and does not affect signals of NH protons but chloride anion induces large shift of the signals of NH protons and small shifts of the signals of OH groups. This behavior makes possible anion discrimination based on preference in the type of binding site rather than simply on anion basicity as is typical for majority of neutral hydrogen bonding anion receptors.