Electrochemical Activation of the Tetrazine Ligation for Surface Modification

Abstract

Our lab has been interested in developing conjugation reactions that can be triggered by electrochemical potential. Such reactions could have application in the functionalization of independently addressable electrode arrays. These include past effortsusing the electrochemistry to locally generate copper+1 to trigger the well-known copper catalyzed azide alkyne cycloaddition. Our lab has been interested in an alternative bioorthogonal reaction, the tetrazzini ligation, as a versatile coupling tool. Unlike “click” chemistry, the tetrazine ligation does not have a redox active catalyst. However, one of the reactive components (the tetrazine) is redox active and can be reduced to a dihydrotetrazine, preventing cycloaddition. Through this manner, bioconjugation can be controlled electrochemically. I will summarize our findings in this area and discuss applications.