Enantioselective molecularly imprinted polymer membranes

Molecular imprinting is a technology that allows for the creation of molecu lar recognition sites in synthetic polymers via the use of templates. Impri nted materials have been used in various applications, including stationary phases for chromatography, recognition elements in sensors, or antibody bi nding mimics in immunoassay-type analyses. In the present work, molecularly imprinted enantioselective polymer membranes are described. The amino acid derivative CBZ-tyrosine was chosen as the target compound. A CBZ-L-tyrosin e-imprinted polymer was first tested in HPLC mode, and efficient resolution of racemic CBZ-tyrosine was obtained. Imprinted polymer membranes were pre pared by casting the polymer in the pores of a polypropylene membrane, usin g a specifically adapted polymer recipe. In diffusion experiments across th e imprinted membranes, enantioselectivity was observed with the diffusion o f the L-enantiomer of CBZ-tyrosine (the original template) being faster tha n that of the D-enantiomer. Chirality 11:465-469, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss , Inc.