Molecularly imprinted receptor having metalloporphyrin-based signaling binding site

A molecularly imprinted polymer capable of spectroscopic change based upon molecular recognition was prepared using a metalloporphyrin-based functional monomer. The effectiveness of the metalloporphyrin functional monomer was demonstrated on molecular imprinting of a nucleobase derivative, 9-ethyladenine (9-EA). When the concentration of 9-EA was increased, the visible absorbance spectra of the polymer dispersed in chloroform showed a red shift and the degree of the shift was dependent upon the concentration change. This readable molecular recognition phenomenon suggests a potential application of the molecularly imprinted polymer as optical sensor materials.