BIFUNCTIONAL INTERPENETRATING POLYMER NETWORKS

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) with two different functional groups on one of tile two cross-linked networks have been synthesized. Bifunctional IPNs with imidazole and carboxylic acid groups are described and their binding affinity for copper and cobalt ions is quantified via Langmuir adsorption isotherm plots. The microenvironment within the imidazole-acid IPNs varies as the ratio of ligands changes along the series 1:0, 0.5:0.5, and 0:1. Binding constants for the foregoing IPNs are 3130, 1556, and 77 N-1 for Cu(II) and 294, 189, and 26 N-1 for Co(II), respectively. Conditions under which different ligands can cooperate synergistically In the complexation of substrates are being defined to enable design of highly selective chemical sensors and complexing agents for environmental separations.