Photochromic styryl dyes containing benzodithia-18-crown-6 and N-substituted benzothiazolium moieties are synthesized and characterized spectroscopically and, for a specific case, by X-ray crystallography. The effects of the N-substituent and of sulfur atom substitution in the crown ether cavity on metal cation complex formation and on photochromism due to reversible trans-cis photoisomerization are evaluated. High selectivities for heavy metal ions, such as Ag+ and Hg2+, are observed, in contrast to the benzo-18-crown-6 dyes which selectively bind alkali and alkali earth cations. Relative complex formation stability constants, determined spectrophotometrically, are converted to absolute values by polarographic measurements. The stability constant for Hg2+ complex formation by the trans dye is enhanced 47-fold upon substitution of the 4-butylsulfonate group for methyl at the nitrogen of the benzothiazolium moiety. Photoisomerization to the cis dye is accompanied by a further 11-fold stability constant increase and by spectral changes that are consistent with formation of an ion-"capped" complex, involving intramolecular coordination of the sulfonate anion to Hg2+. Addition of a large excess of Mg2+ ions disrupts this intramolecular coordination bond without displacing the Hg2+ ion from the dithiacrown ether cavity.