THE EFFECT OF STRUCTURE ON POLY(QUINONE) SYSTEMS FOR AMPEROMETRIC GLUCOSE SENSORS

2,5-Etheramino-p-benzoquinone I, poly(2,5-etheramino-p-benzoquinone)s IIa-e (x=3, 6 and 33), -omega,omega'-hexamethylenediamino-p-benzoquino ne) IV and poly(3,6-etheramino-o-benzoquinone) V (x = 6) (x is the num ber of propylene oxide repeating units) were synthesized and their eff iciencies as electron relay systems for amperometric glucose sensors w ere investigated and compared. Cyclic voltammetry and steady state pot ential measurements showed that the quinone monomer and polymers effic iently mediated electron transfer from reduced glucose oxidase to a co nventional carbon paste electrode. Sensors constructed with 2,5-ethera mino-p-benzoquinone showed higher efficiency than those constructed wi th polymeric systems. Among the poly(2,5-etheramino-p-benzoquinone)s, the length of the propylene oxide chain between quinone moieties was f ound to be critical for electron relay efficiency. Sensors constructed from polymers with shorter propylene oxide chains between the quinone moieties demonstrated greater efficiency than those constructed from polymers with longer propylene oxide chains (x = 3 > 6 much greater th an 33). The sensor stability was investigated using sensors containing monomeric quinone compound I, non-crosslinked polymer IIb, and crossl inked polymer VI. The sensors with crosslinked polymer were the most s table and maintained their efficiency over 50 days.