A high throughput strategy for synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers microspheres via oxygen tolerant visible light-mediated RAFT polymerization for sweeteners sensing in sucrose

Recently, the conventional oxygen-tolerant photo-activated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization has been fruitful. However, its application to the synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) remains a challenge. Herein, we proposed a rapid, simple and reliable method to prepare MIPs microspheres by oxygen-tolerant visible light-mediated RAFT polymerization without additives, prior deoxygenation, or inert gas protection. The effects of various solvents, photo-initiator concentration, irradiation intensity of the visible light source, solids content of the functional monomer and crosslinker, RAFT agent content and light ON/OFF experiments on this oxygen tolerance photo-mediated RAFT precipitation polymerization was investigated using the real-time high throughput platform. Moreover, the multichannel sensor array based on the MIPs microspheres was attempted to recognize the sweeteners in sucrose. In summary, this photo-mediated RAFT precipitation polymerization would be one of the simple, rapid, efficient, and promising tools to synthesize MIPs materials and functional materials in glycol ether aqueous solvents under mild conditions. In addition, the MIPs sensor array also indicated favorable results in monitoring the sweeteners.