[Spectroscopy and XPS studies on molecular recognition of a molecularly imprinted cotinine-specific polymer]

In the present study, molecular imprinting technique was used to develop a method based on noncovalent interaction for the systhesis of a cotinine-specific polymer. The molecular recognition characteristics of the template polymer were evaluated by UV, IR, XPS and 1H NMR. The results indicated that the interactions should be cooperative hydrogen bonds produced by self-assembling of the template and the monomer. The stoichiometric mole ratio of COT-MAA complex is 1 : 2. Furthermore, nitrogen atom of the pyridine ring and oxygen atom of the lactam group in cotinine molecular are hydrogen-bond acceptors, being the predominant binding sites interacting with the functional monomer.