Hydrogel spheres, fashioned from an operationally simple mould, that incorporate boronate units were shown to function as saccharide sensors.

Amine alkylation reactions of alcohols have been performed in the presence of boronic ester groups to provide products which are known to have use as molecular sensors. The boronic ester moiety could be present in either the alcohol or amine starting material and was not compromised in the presence of a ruthenium catalyst.