| abstract |
A method for the detection of chemical agent present in a material comprising exposing a calixarene, having redox active substituents on its para rim, to a solution or suspension derived by admixture of all or some of the material with a liquid, measuring any change in electrical behaviour of the calixarene during or after exposure to the solution or suspension as compared to a reference condition, and relating such change in electrical behaviour to the presence of chemical agent. Preferably, the calixarene exposed to the solution or suspension is a calix[4]arene of general formula (I), wherein Y1 to Y4 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl or a redox active substituent and R1 to R4 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, alkenyl, aryl, aralkyl, or a polymerisable moiety, wherein at least one of Y1 to Y4 is a redox active substituent. |