Synthesis and LC characterization of clenbuterol molecularly imprinted polymers

Highly selective non-covalent clenbuterol (CL) imprinted polymers were prepared using methacrylic acid as monomer and ethylene glycol dimethacrylale as cross-linking agent. HPLC experiments with columns packed with this material showed that CL are selectively recognised with respect to all other adrenergic substances studied using a phosphate buffer/acetonitrile eluent. The separation was strongly dependent on pH and the organic/aqueous phase ratio. An important contribution to the recognition mechanism from hydrophobic interactions was found at higher water content. These results demonstrate that a novel family of absorbents with high selectivity for CL was obtained which can be exploited in solid phase extractions or as recognition elements for selective sensors. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.