3-(4-Tolylazo)phenylboronic acid as the active component of polyhydroxy compounds-selective electrodes

Ionophoric, extraction, acidic and hydrophobic properties of 3-(4-tolylazo)phenylboronic acid (TAPBA) were studied. Determined K_d value equals to 36±2, pK_a equals to 8.6±0.5. TAPBA extracts dobutamine from water into chloroform and transports it across a bulk chloroform membrane. The recovery is 83% (pH=7.5), the transport rate – (6.5±0.5)×10⁻⁷ mol/h. ¹H and ¹³C NMR data confirm the formation of an 1:1 complex between arylboronic acid and catecholamine. TAPBA was used as electrode-active component of plasticized membrane electrodes with cationic and anionic responses to catecholamines and phenolic acids, respectively. For the diethyl sebacate-plasticized membrane, a slope of electrode function to dobutamine is 56±2 mV/decade; the detection limit is 1.3×10⁻⁵ mol/l; the linear range – 5×10⁻⁵–1×10⁻² mol/l; the working pH-range – 4.8–7.6; the response time – 5–10 s. ISE gives incomplete cationic function to less lipophilic catecholamines. The membrane with cationic additive shows an anionic response to caffeic acid in wide pH range.