New tetramethylthiepinium (TMTI) for copper-free click chemistry

A new derivative of the strained 3,3,6,6-tetramethylthiacycloheptyne (TMTH) bearing a functional handle is reported. Following an optimized synthesis, the handle was introduced by mild alkylation of the sulphur atom. The resulting functionalized strained 4,5-didehydro-3,3,6,6-tetramethyl-2,3,6,7-tetrahydrothiepinium (TMTI) proved to be stable and underwent extremely fast [3+2] cycloaddition reaction with benzyl azide in both organic and aqueous solvents. The reaction was equally efficient in cell lysate and serum and therefore opens interesting prospects for chemical-biology applications.