Hyper-Cross-Linked Polypyrene Spheres Functionalized with 3‑Aminophenylboronic Acid for the Electrochemical Detection of Diols

• Published in: ACS omega Vol. 2; no. 11; pp. 7506 - 7514
• Main Authors: Varyambath, Anuraj, Tran, Chinh Hoang, Song, Wen Liang, Kim, Il
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 30-11-2017
• ISSN: 2470-1343; 2470-1343
• DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b01107

A sensor for the determination of diols using 3-aminophenylboronic acid (APBA)-functionalized hyper-cross-linked polypyrene (PPy) (APBA@PPy) is presented. The uniform (∼1 μm in diameter) and highly porous (628 m2 g–1 in specific surface area) PPy spheres are fabricated via a one-pot protocol that consists of ZnBr2-catalyzed alkylation of pyrene, a subsequent cross-linking reaction, and concomitant self-assembly. The PPy spheres formed within a few minutes at mild conditions are featured by an excellent structural integrity and inertness to organic solvents. Thus, the APBA@PPy composites (∼1 μm in diameter; 458 m2 g–1 in specific surface area) are prepared simply by substituting unreacted bromomethyl groups on the surface of PPy spheres for APBA. The APBA@PPy composites are successfully applied for the electrochemical sensing of d-glucose and dopamine. A dye displacement assay is also performed using alizarin red dye conjugated to boronic acid in glucose buffer solution.