Electrochemical fabrication of polymerized imidazole-based ionic liquid bearing pyrrole moiety for sensitive determination of hexestrol in chicken meat

• Synthesis of a novel imidazole-based ionic liquid bearing pyrrole moiety.
• Electrochemical fabrication of a polymerized ionic liquid film electrode.
• Sensitive determination of hexestrol in chicken meat.

1-[3-(tert-Butoxycarbonylamino)propyl]-3-[3-(N-pyrrole)propyl]imidazolium tetrafluoroborate [(t-Boc-APPPI)BF4], which is a novel pyrrolyl-functionalized ionic liquid, was synthesized and characterized. Subsequently, it was electrochemically deposited onto a glassy carbon electrode surface to fabricate a polymerized ionic liquid film electrode. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were used to confirm the successful polymerization of ionic liquid. Voltammetric behaviors of hexestrol at the film electrode were investigated. The oxidation peak slightly shifted towards positive potential, however, dramatically increased in peak current. Experimental conditions for hexestrol determination were optimized. The oxidation peak current is linear with hexestrol concentration in the range of 1.0 × 10−8–1.0 × 10−5 mol L−1. The detection limit is estimated to be 2.1 × 10−9 mol L−1 (S/N = 3). Hexestrol in chicken meat was determined using the film electrode with good accuracy.