Polyurea With L-Lysinyl Residues as Components: Application to Membrane Separation of Enantiomers

Novel polyureas are synthesized from lysinyl residues. The polyurea thus prepared yields a durable self-standing membrane that can be converted into a molecular recognition material by using Z-D-Glu or Z-L-Glu as a print molecule. The Z-D-Glu molecularly imprinted membrane adsorbes the D-isomer of Glu in preference to the corresponding L-Glu and vice versa. Even though the polyurea consists of L-lysinyl residues, both Z-D-Glu and Z-L-Glu work as print molecules to construct molecular (chiral) recognition sites in the membrane. Those molecularly imprinted membranes show chiral separation abilities when a concentration gradient or an applied potential difference is applied as a driving force for membrane transport.