Transient Protection of Organic Azides from Click Reactions with Alkynes by Phosphazide Formation

Spot the difference in reactivity: a comprehensive review of site-selective multicomponent conjugation exploiting multi-azide compounds

Going beyond the conventional approach of pairwise conjugation between two molecules, the integration of multiple components onto a central scaffold molecule is essential for the development of high-performance molecular materials with multifunctionality. This approach also facilitates the creation of functionalized molecular probes applicable in diverse fields ranging from pharmaceuticals to polymeric materials. Among the various click functional groups, the azido group stands out as a representative click functional group due to its steric compactness, high reactivity, handling stability, and easy accessibility in the context of multi-azide scaffolds. However, the azido groups in multi-azide scaffolds have not been well exploited for site-specific use in molecular conjugation. In fact, multi-azide compounds have been well used to conjugate to the same multiple fragments. To circumvent problems of promiscuous and random coupling of multiple different fragments to multiple azido positions, it is imperative to distinguish specific azido positions and use them orthogonally for molecular conjugation. This review outlines methods and strategies to exploit specific azide positions for molecular conjugation in the presence of multiple azido groups. Illustrative examples covering di-, tri- and tetraazide click scaffolds are included.

Amphos-Mediated Conversion of Alkyl Azides to Diazo Compounds and One-Pot Azide-Site Selective Transient Protection, Click Conjugation, and Deprotective Transformation

A one-pot conversion of alkyl azides to diazo compounds is outlined. After the reaction of α-azidocarbonyl compounds with Amphos, treatment of the resulting phosphazides with silica gel in a wet solvent afforded α-diazo carbonyl products. Through the azido group protection property of Amphos, inter- and intramolecular azide-site selective reactions of azido group protection, click functionalization, and deprotection of the diazo group have been demonstrated in one pot.

Chemodivergent Staudinger Reactions of Secondary Phosphine Oxides and Application to the Total Synthesis of LL-D05139β Potassium Salt

Unprecedented Staudinger reaction modes of secondary phosphine oxides (SPO) and organic azides are herein disclosed. By the application of various additives, selective nitrogen atom exclusion from the azide group has been achieved. Chlorotrimethylsilane mediates a stereoretentive Staudinger reaction with a 2-N exclusion which provides a valuable method for the synthesis of phosphinic amides and can be considered complementary to the stereoinvertive Atherton-Todd reaction. Alternatively, a 1-N exclusion pathway is promoted by acetic acid to provide the corresponding diazo compound. The effectiveness of this protocol has been further demonstrated by the total synthesis of the diazo-containing natural product LL-D05139β, which was prepared as a potassium salt for the first time in 6 steps and 26.5 % overall yield.

Synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles using Grignard reactions through the protection of azides

An efficient method to prepare organomagnesium intermediates having a protected azido group is reported. Protection of azido groups with di-(tert-butyl)(4-(dimethylamino)phenylphosphine (amphos) and following iodine-magnesium exchange realized the preparation of organomagnesium intermediates, which served in the synthesis of diverse azides by transformation with various electrophiles followed by deprotection with elemental sulfur. Furthermore, click reactions of azides with alkynes enabled synthesizing a wide variety of 1,2,3-triazoles.

Substitution of α-Azido Sulfones with Thiolates to Form α-Azido Sulfides

Upon treatment of α-azido sulfones with a thiol in the presence of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine, substitution of the sulfonyl group with a thiolate occurred, resulting in the formation of α-azido sulfides. Based on experimental results and DFT calculations, a reaction mechanism that involves the addition of a thiolate to the azido group and generation of an alkylidene triazene is proposed.

Site-specific DNA functionalization through the tetrazene-forming reaction in ionic liquids

Site-specific chemical modification of unprotected DNAs through a phosphine-mediated amine–azide coupling reaction in ionic liquid.

Synthesis of Azidoanilines by the Buchwald-Hartwig Amination

We report a Buchwald-Hartwig amination compatible with azido functionality. Treatment of azidoaryl iodides and amines with fourth-generation Buchwald precatalyst coordinated by CPhos and sodium tert-butoxide in 1,4-dioxane at 50 °C afforded the corresponding azidoanilines while leaving the azido groups intact. The method showed a broad substrate scope and was applicable to the synthesis of diazido compounds as photoaffinity probe candidates of pharmaceutical amines and multiazido platform molecules.

An Ionic Liquid Medium Enables Development of a Phosphine-Mediated Amine-Azide Bioconjugation Method

While a diverse set of design strategies have produced various chemical tools for biomolecule labeling in aqueous media, the development of nonaqueous, biomolecule-compatible media for bioconjugation has significantly lagged behind. In this report, we demonstrate that an aprotic ionic liquid serves as a novel reaction solvent for protein bioconjugation without noticeable loss of the biomolecule functions. The ionic liquid bioconjugation approach led to discovery of a novel triphenylphosphine-mediated amine-azide coupling reaction that forges a stable tetrazene linkage on unprotected peptides and proteins. This strategy of using untraditional media would provide untapped opportunities for expanding the scope of chemical approaches for bioconjugation.

Nucleophilic transformations of azido-containing carbonyl compounds via protection of the azido group

Nucleophilic transformations of azido-containing carbonyl compounds are discussed. The phosphazide formation from azides and di(tert-butyl)(4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)phosphine (Amphos) enabled transformations of carbonyl groups with nucleophiles such as lithium aluminum hydride and organometallic reagents. The good stability of the phosphazide moiety allowed us to perform consecutive transformations of a diazide through triazole formation and the Grignard reaction.

Surface Functionalization of Black Phosphorus with Nitrenes: Identification of P=N Bonds by Using Isotopic Labeling

Surface functionalization of two-dimensional crystals is a key path to tuning their intrinsic physical and chemical properties. However, synthetic protocols and experimental strategies to directly probe chemical bonding in modified surfaces are scarce. Introduced herein is a mild, surface-specific protocol for the surface functionalization of few-layer black phosphorus nanosheets using a family of photolytically generated nitrenes (RN) from the corresponding azides. By embedding spectroscopic tags in the organic backbone, a multitude of characterization techniques are employed to investigate in detail the chemical structure of the modified nanosheets, including vibrational, X-ray photoelectron, solid state ³¹ P NMR, and UV-vis spectroscopy. To directly probe the functional groups introduced on the surface, R fragments were selected such that in conjunction with vibrational spectroscopy, ¹⁵ N-labeling experiments, and DFT methods, diagnostic P=N vibrational modes indicative of iminophosphorane units on the nanosheet surface could be conclusively identified.

Assembly of four modules onto a tetraazide platform by consecutive 1,2,3-triazole formations

Efficient consecutive 1,2,3-triazole formations using multiazide platforms are disclosed. On the basis of unique clickability of the 1-adamantyl azido group, a four-step synthesis of tetrakis(triazole)s was achieved from a tetraazide platform molecule. This method was applied to a convergent synthesis of tetrafunctionalized probes in a modular synthetic manner.

Taming the reactivity of alkyl azides by intramolecular hydrogen bonding: site-selective conjugation of unhindered diazides

The intramolecular hydrogen bonding in the α-azido secondary acetamides (α-AzSAs) enabled site-selective integration onto the diazide modular hubs even without steric hindrance.

2-Azidoacrylamides as compact platforms for efficient modular synthesis

Efficient methods to assemble modules with compact platform molecules by triazole formations and Michael reactions are disclosed. The good electrophilicity of 2-triazolylacrylamides realized Michael additions using various nucleophiles. An iterative synthesis of a tetrakis(triazole) was accomplished by orthogonal triazole formations and Michael reactions.

Triazole formation of phosphinyl alkynes with azides through transient protection of phosphine by copper

An efficient preparation method of functionalized phosphines by copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) through the transient protection of phosphine from the Staudinger reaction is disclosed. Diverse phosphines were prepared from phosphinyl alkynes and azides by the click reaction at the ethynyl group without damaging the phosphinyl group. Double- and triple-click assemblies of azides were accomplished by triazole formations and robust azaylide formation.

(Hexafluoroacetylacetonato)copper(I)-cycloalkyne complexes as protected cycloalkynes

A protection method for cycloalkynes by the formation of (hexafluoroacetylacetonato)copper(i)-cycloalkyne complexes is disclosed. Various complexes having functional groups were efficiently prepared, which are easily purified by silica-gel column chromatography. Selective click reactions were realized through the complexation of cycloalkynes with copper.

Selective strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloadditions through transient protection of bicyclo[6.1.0]nonynes with silver or gold

Complexation of bicyclo[6.1.0]nonynes with a cationic silver or gold salt results in protection from a click reaction with azides. The cycloalkyne protection using the silver or gold salt enables selective strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloadditions of diynes keeping the bicyclo[6.1.0]nonyne moiety unreacted.

Sequential conjugation methods based on triazole formation and related reactions using azides

The recent remarkable progress in azide chemistry has realized sequential conjugation methods with selective 1,2,3-triazole formation. On the basis of the diverse reactivities of azides and azidophiles, including terminal alkynes and cyclooctynes, various selective reactions to furnish triazoles and a wide range of platform molecules, such as diynes, diazides, triynes, and triazides, have been developed so far for bis- and tris(triazole) syntheses. This review highlights recent transformations involving selective triazole formation, allowing the efficient preparation of unsymmetric bis- and tris(triazole)s using diverse platform molecules.

Facile assembly of three cycloalkyne-modules onto a platform compound bearing thiophene S,S-dioxide moiety and two azido groups

An efficient method to assemble three cycloalkyne-modules onto a platform bearing a thiophene S,S-dioxide moiety and two azido groups has been developed. The sequential reactions without catalysis or additives enabled the facile preparation of trifunctional molecules by a simple procedure.

Modular activatable bioorthogonal reagents

The bioorthogonal reaction toolbox contains approximately two-dozen unique chemistries that permit selective tagging and probing of biomolecules. Over the past two decades, significant effort has been devoted to optimizing and discovering bioorthogonal reagents that are faster, fluorogenic, and orthogonal to the already existing bioorthogonal repertoire. Conversely, efforts to explore bioorthogonal reagents whose reactivity can be controlled in space and/or time are limited. The "activatable" bioorthogonal reagents that do exist are often unimodal, meaning that their reagent's activation method cannot be easily modified to enable activation with red-shifted wavelengths, enzymes, or metabolic-byproducts and ions like H₂O₂ or Fe³⁺. Here, we summarize the available activatable bioorthogonal reagents with a focus on our recent addition: modular caged cyclopropenes. We designed caged cyclopropenes to be unreactive to their bioorthogonal partner until they are activated through the removal of the cage by light, an enzyme, or another reaction partner. To accomplish this, their structure includes a nitrogen atom at the cyclopropene C3 position that is decorated with the desired caging group through a carbamate linkage. This 3-N cyclopropene system can allow control of cyclopropene reactivity using a multitude of already available photo- and enzyme-caging groups. Additionally, this cyclopropene scaffold can enable metabolic-byproduct or ion activation of bioorthogonal reactions.

A facile preparation of functional cycloalkynes via an azide-to-cycloalkyne switching approach

Terminal alkyne-selective click conjugation of diynes bearing strained and terminal alkyne moieties with functional azides has been achieved by transient protection of strained alkynes via complexation with copper to easily afford various functional cycloalkynes.

Site-selective conversion of azido groups at carbonyl α-positions into oxime groups leading triazide to a triple click conjugation scaffold

This paper reports the selective conversion of alkyl azido groups at the carbonyl α-position into oximes, and one-pot triple click conjugation is demonstrated.

Further enhancement of the clickability of doubly sterically-hindered aryl azides by para-amino substitution

Introduction of an amino group at the para position of doubly sterically-hindered aryl azides significantly enhances their clickability with cyclooctynes.