Solid-Phase Synthesis of s-Tetrazines

Abstract

An efficient synthesis of s-tetrazines by solid-phase methods is described. This synthesis route was compatible with different solid-phase resins and linkers and did not require metal catalysts or high temperatures. Monosubstituted tetrazines were routinely synthesized using thiol-promoted chemistry, using dichloromethane as a carbon source, while disubstituted unsymmetrical aryl or alkyl tetrazines were synthesized using readily available nitriles. This efficient approach enabled the synthesis of s-tetrazines in high yields (70-94%), eliminating the classical solution-phase problems of mixtures of symmetrical and unsymmetrical tetrazines, with only a single final purification step required, and paves the way to the rapid synthesis of s-tetrazines with various applications in bioorthogonal chemistry and beyond.

Scheme 1. Previously Reported Methods to s-Tetrazines and Our Approach

Scheme 2. Solid-Phase Synthesis of Tetrazines Using a ChemMatrix (CM) Resin Functionalized with a Rink Amide Linker Illustrating the Scope of the Reaction

The inset shows the structures and yields of the isolated products after purification.

Scheme 3. Solid-Phase Synthetic Route for Tetrazines on a 2-Chlorotritylchloride Linker Functionalized Polystyrene Resin Illustrating the Scope of the Reaction

The inset shows the structures and yields of the isolated products obtained after purification.