10.1002/cplu.201100080
The research focuses on the development of scaffold-optimized dendrimers for the detection of the explosive triacetone triperoxide (TATP) using quartz crystal microbalances (QCM). The purpose of this study is to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of TATP detection, addressing the limitations of existing methods that rely on the analysis of H2O2 after hydrolysis or dissociation of TATP, which are time-consuming and not suitable for low-cost sensor technology. The researchers synthesized a series of polyphenylene dendrimers with various substituents at the internal branches, aiming to improve the affinity and selectivity for TATP. The chemicals used in the process include triacetone triperoxide (TATP) itself, polyphenylene dendrimers with different functional groups such as pyrenyl, pyridyl, nitro, cyano, and amide moieties, as well as tetraphenylcyclopentadienone and other reagents involved in the synthesis of the dendrimers. The conclusions drawn from the study indicate that the novel polyphenylene-type dendrimers, particularly those containing pyrenyl and cyanophenyl units, not only significantly enhanced the affinity to TATP but also improved selectivity over interfering compounds, allowing for exquisite discrimination of TATP. The study identified compound 5, a nonpolar and pyrenyl-containing dendrimer, as the most promising candidate for TATP sensor applications due to its superior overall characteristics in detection.