A series of 2-phenmethylamino-7-methyl-1,8-naphthyridine/alkali metal ion (Li+ and Na+) complexes have been synthesized using a polymeric medium (poly(acrylic acid)) as the key activating component. Upon exposure to methanol or ethanol vapour at ambient temperature, the emission colour of prepared complexes in solid powder and thin film states changes from red-orange or pink to blue, respectively. These phenomena are reversible and rapid (about 5-10 s), hence, the prepared complexes have potential applications as chemosensor materials for detection of volatile methanol vapour