Inverse electron demand Diels-Alder (iEDDA)-initiated conjugation: a (high) potential click chemistry scheme

Abstract

Inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reactions (iEDDA) between 1,2,4,5-tetrazines and olefins have emerged into a state-of-the art concept for the conjugation of biomolecules. Now, this reaction is also increasingly being applied in polymer science and materials science. The orthogonality of this exciting reaction to other well-established click chemistry schemes, its high reaction speed and its biocompatibility are key features of iEDDA making it a powerful alternative to existing ligation chemistries. The intention of this tutorial review is to introduce the reader to the fundamentals of inverse electron demand Diels-Alder additions and to answer the question whether iEDDA chemistry is living up to the criteria for a "click" reaction and can serve as a basis for future applications in post-synthetic modification of materials.