Jesse Reyes
Research Project Summary:
Bioorthogonal chemistry utilizes reactions that do not interfere with native biological processes, enabling innovative strategies within chemical biology and biomedicine. Strain-promoted azide–alkyne cycloaddition reactions display the selectivity and reactivity required to be performed in biological systems. We look to design and synthesize new reagents for bioorthogonal chemistry by tuning alkyne strain and electronics through structural modifications (e.g., electron donating and withdrawing groups). To assess the potential for these newly synthesized cycloalkynes to be used as bioorthogonal reagents, we will determine the reaction kinetics and stability in the presence of typical functional groups found within biomolecules.