Developing test strips for naked-eye detection of alpha-hydroxy acids using indicator-displacement assays: an application of molecular recognition

An Indicator-Displacement Assay (IDA) was used to study the kinetics of reactions that produce tartrate. Two examples are the dihydroxylation of maleic acid and fumaric acid catalyzed by osmium tetroxide in water, and the hydrolysis of D-dimethyl tartrate. The assay employed a receptor that has 1,3,5-trisubstituted-2,4,6- triethylbenzene scaffold incorporating boronic acid and guanidinium moieties as functional sensing components. The same assay was found to be useful in developing test strips for “naked-eye detection” of tartrate and other α-hydroxyacids, by treating filter papers and various polymer matrices with the receptor and indicator. Also, investigations into the effect of pH on the host-indicator affinity, and the development of a new synthetic host to sense aspartic acid and glutamic acid are presented. In other words, chapters 1 and 2 are summary of background and review of previous and current works in molecular recognition. New works are found in chapters 3, 4, and 5.