Self-assembly of a “double dynamic covalent” amphiphile featuring a glucose-responsive imine bond

Abstract

Glucose binding via boronate ester linkages selectively triggers imine bond formation between 4-formylphenylboronic acid and octylamine, leading to the formation of vesicular aggregates in aqueous solutions. This "double dynamic covalent assembly" allows the facile selective sensing of glucose against the otherwise serious interferant fructose, without the need to resort to synthetic effort.