Modified polysulfones. VI. Preparation of polymer membrane materials containing benzimine and benzylamine groups as precursors for molecularly imprinted sensor devices

A modified polysulfone containing benzylamine groups was synthesized as a reactive membrane material. Polysulfone was activated at the ortho‐sulfone site by direct lithiation with n‐butyllithium, and the resulting lithiated polysulfone was then reacted with benzonitrile; this yielded a polymer with pendant benzimine groups. The structure was confirmed by NMR and IR spectroscopy and by the transformation of imine to ketone by acid hydrolysis. The polymeric benzimine was also reduced to benzylamine with sodium cyanoborohydride in an acidic medium. The structure and degree of substitution of both benzylamine derivatives were determined by NMR and IR spectroscopy. The modified polysulfone containing benzylamine groups initiated the polymerization of N‐carboxyanhydride of γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate Glu(OBzl)–NCA]. The side‐chain oligopeptide of Glu(OBzl)–NCA attached to polysulfone was converted into molecular recognition sites. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1316–1329, 2003