Molecular Recognition of the Fungicide Carbendazim by a Molecular Imprinted Polymer Obtained through a Mimic Template Approach

A molecularly imprinted polymer recognizing the fungicide carbendazim was prepared using a mimicking template approach. Methyl-3-propylcarbamoyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate was synthesized and used as a mimic template for polymer preparation. Selectivity of this polymer for carbendazim and structurally related substances (the template, fluberidazole, rabenzazole, thiabendazole, and benomyl and its two degradation products) was evaluated by liquid chromatography. Results demonstrate that imprinted polymer shows significant recognition properties for carbendazim, whereas the mimic and other carbendazim-related molecules are not recognized. This peculiar selectivity pattern can be explained as an imprinting effect due to the in situ formation of carbendazim from mimic degradation during the polymerization process.