The interaction of the open-chain polyamine N-(3-aminopropyl)-N′-[3-(anthrylmethyl)aminopropyl]ethane-1,2-diamine (L) with the relevant anionic forms of adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP), adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP) is described. Unambiguous criteria for defining thermodynamic selectivity based on the use of effective stability constants are presented. The interaction of L and several other topologically similar polyammonium receptors with ATP has been shown to occur through electrostatic and π-stacking intermolecular forces. The π-stacking binding mode is modulated by the protonation degree of ATP as indicated by fluorescence emission titrations. Evidence for the use of these receptors as ATP luminescent chemosensors is advanced.