ortho-Methoxyphenols as Convenient Oxidative Bioconjugation Reagents with Application to Site-Selective...

The synthesis of complex protein-based bioconjugates has been facilitated greatly by recent developments in chemoselective methods for biomolecular modification. The oxidative coupling of o-aminophenols or catechols with aniline functional groups is chemoselective, mild, and rapid; however, the oxidatively sensitive nature of the electron-rich aromatics and the paucity of commercial sources pose some obstacles to the general use of these reactive strategies. Herein, we identify o-methoxyphenols as air-stable, commercially available derivatives that undergo efficient oxidative couplings with anilines in the presence of periodate as oxidant. Mechanistic considerations informed the development of a preoxidation protocol that can greatly reduce the amount of periodate necessary for effective coupling. The stability and versatility of these reagents was demonstrated through the synthesis of complex protein-protein bioconjugates using a site-selective heterobifunctional cross-linker comprising both o-methoxyphenol and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde moieties. This compound was used to link epidermal growth factor to genome-free MS2 viral capsids, affording nanoscale delivery vectors that can target a variety of cancer cell types.