Mechanosynthesis of equol-based polycarbonate and polyester as chemosensors for detection of nitro-explosives

Abstract

Equol (4',7-isoflavandiol) is a metabolite of isoflavandiol estrogen daidzein, which is found in soybeans and other plant sources. In this manuscript we wish to report the first mechanochemical approach to equol-based polymers, such as polycarbonate and polyester. Our approach involves the polycondensation reaction between 4',7-isoflavandiol (rac-equol) and triphosgene or oxalyl chloride under ball-milling conditions. The obtained polymers were characterized by means of 1H NMR- and IR-spectroscopy. To explore the possibility of practical application of the abovementioned polymers, the fluorescence “turn-off” response of the equol-based polycarbonate towards some common nitroanalytes (2,4-dinitrotioluene (DNT) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid, PA)) was investigated, and up to 1o5 M–1 Stern-Volmer constants were observed. © 2025, the Authors.