Selective Recognition of Bifunctional Molecules by Synthetic Polymers Prepared by Covalent Molecular Imprinting

Abstract

Affinity polymeric adsorbents useful for the sepn. of compds. which are derivs. of phenols, heterocycles and other compds. contg. two polar moieties were prepd. by a covalent imprinting approach. Such sepn., for example, would facilitate the anal. detection and quantification of each individual compd. esp. when present in complex sample matrix. The synthetic method, used for the prepn. of the polymers, is based on co-polymn. of diacrylate esters of hydroxyphenols (catechol, resorcinol and hydroquinone) with an appropriate cross-linker followed by alk. hydrolysis of the esters and release of the corresponding phenol. The resulting swellable materials contain cavities with adjustable size and orientation of two carboxylic groups suited for the binding of mols. with appropriate size and complementary orientation of polar groups. In contrast to conventional MIPs the synthesized polymers have selectivity not only for the phenolic templates, but also for a group of compds. with suitable orientations of polar functionalities, such as arom. nitrogen, amino or hydroxyl groups. Polymers demonstrated different affinity to ortho-, meta- and para-isomers of hydroxyphenols, hydroxypyridines and diazine heterocycles. [on SciFinder(R)]