Selective discrimination of closely related monosaccharides at physiological pH by a polymeric receptor

High selectivity for glucose by a polymeric receptor at physiological pH over other 1,2-cis-diols, namely mannose and galactose, and over a non-imprinted control polymer is reported. The shape selectivity of the imprinted cavity of the polymer has been examined in competing and non-competing rebinding experiments under saturation conditions applying weak binding interactions at physiological pH. The influence of the orientation of the functional groups during polymerisation resulting in the observed high shape selectivity of the cavity has been discussed.