Synthesis and preliminary evaluation of a molecularly imprinted polymer selective for artificial phenolic estrogenic compounds

A molecularly imprinted polymer has been prepared using a hexestrol templat e. The polymer was synthesised using diethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DAEM) as functional monomer and trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate as crosslinkin g monomer via a photoinitiated addition polymerisation. An equivalent blank polymer was also synthesised in the absence of the template compound. Afte r packing into a stainless steel column (150 x 4.6 mm id), retention and el ution of the template and related compounds were evaluated by high-performa nce liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results showed that the material synt hesised in the presence of hexestrol demonstrated a selectivity towards com pounds containing the stilbene carbon backbone (diethylstilbestrol, dienest rol, hexestrol).