Selective recognition of d-tryptophan from d/l-tryptophan mixtures in the presence of Cu(II) by electropolymerized l-lysine film

Selective recognition of d-tryptophan (d-Trp) in the presence of Cu(II) was investigated at poly-l-lysine (p-l-Lys) film using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). p-l-Lys film was immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by cyclic voltammetry between 0.0 and 1.9 V in 20 mM phosphate buffer solution (pH 8.6). After the p-l-Lys/GCE electrode was incubated with d-Trp solution containing Cu(II) ions, obvious enhancement of electron transfer resistance and decrease of voltammetric current could be observed. If d-Trp was replaced by l-tryptophan (l-Trp), there was no apparent resistance and current changes. Moreover, no resistance and current changes could be found in the absence of Cu(II). It may be due to the formation of Cu complex with l-lysine and d-tryptophan. Finally, this method was successfully applied to monitoring enantiomeric composition of the d-Trp and l-Trp mixtures.