Ferrocene-boronic acid–fructose binding based on dual-plate generator–collector voltammetry and square-wave voltammetry

The interaction of ferrocene-boronic acid with fructose is investigated in aqueous 0.1 M phosphate buffer at pH 7, 8 and 9. Two voltammetric methods, based on 1) a dual-plate generator–collector micro-trench electrode (steady state) and 2) a square-wave voltammetry (transient) method, are applied and compared in terms of mechanistic resolution. A combination of experimental data is employed to obtain new insights into the binding rates and the cumulative binding constants for both the reduced ferrocene-boronic acid (pH dependent and weakly binding) and for the oxidised ferrocene-boronic acid (pH independent and strongly binding).