Molecular recognition and catalysis by molecularly imprinted polymer catalysts: Thermodynamic and kinetic surveys on the specific behaviors

The article presents thermodynamic and kinetic surveys on the specific recognition and catalysis by molecularly imprinted polymer catalysts. Using p-nitrophenyl phosphate as templates and 1-allylimidazole as functional monomers, the imprinted material was prepared. The prepared polymer catalyst shows a highly specific recognition and catalysis toward the imprint species. Kinetic analysis indicates that this specific behavior, in nature, can be a result of a preferential promotion. The specific imprint leads to a larger hydrolysis rate in the imprint species than in its analogue. Thermodynamic study also implies that the molecular induction generating from the imprint to NPA is larger than to its analogue, which thus makes the polymer capable of specifically alluring the imprint species to bind.