ABSTRACT
The importance of multifunctionaliiy in the preparation of ion-selective polymers is evident from the structure of enzymes where specific metal ions are bound through cooperative interactions among different amino acids. In synthetic polymers, ionic selectivity is enhanced when a chemical reaction is superimposed on an ion exchange process. The concept of reactive ion exchange has been extended through the synthesis of crosslinked polymers whose metal ion selectivity is a function of reduction, coordination or precipitation reactions as determined by various covalently bound Iigands. Development of three classes of dual mechanism afunctional polymers, a new series of bifunctional diphosphonate polymers, and novel bifunctional ionselective polymers with enhanced ionic accessibility will be presented. Bifunctional anion-selective polymers, interpenetrating polymer networks, and high-stability solvent-impregnated resins will also be examined.
