Sulfonated Hydroxyaryl-Tetrazines with Increased pKa for Accelerated Bioorthogonal Click-to-Release Reactions in Cells

Abstract

Bioorthogonal reactions that enable switching molecular functions by breaking chemical bonds have gained prominence, with the tetrazine-mediated cleavage of trans-cyclooctene caged compounds (click-to-release) being particularly noteworthy for its high versatility, biocompatibility, and fast reaction rates. Despite several recent advances, the development of highly reactive tetrazines enabling quantitative elimination from trans-cyclooctene linkers remains challenging. In this study, we present the synthesis and application of sulfo-tetrazines, a class of derivatives featuring phenolic hydroxyl groups with increased acidity constants (pK_a). This unique property leads to accelerated elimination and complete release of the caged molecules within minutes. Moreover, the inclusion of sulfonate groups provides a valuable synthetic handle, enabling further derivatization into sulfonamides, modified with diverse substituents. Significantly, we demonstrate the utility of sulfo-tetrazines in efficiently activating fluorogenic compounds and prodrugs in living cells, offering exciting prospects for their application in bioorthogonal chemistry.