Thiol-Specific Silicon-Containing Conjugating Reagent: β-Silyl Alkynyl Carbonyl Compounds

Site-specific modification of thiol-containing biomolecules has been recognized as a versatile and powerful strategy for probing our biological systems and discovering novel therapeutics. The addition of lipophilic silicon moiety opens up new avenues for multi-disciplinary research with broad applications in both the medicinal and material sciences. However, adhering to the strict biocompatibility requirements, and achieving the introduction of labile silicon handle and high chemo-selectivity have been formidable. In this paper, we report silicon-based conjugating reagents including β-trialkylsilyl and silyl ether-tethered alkynones that selectively react with thiols under physiological conditions. The pH-neutral, metal-free and additive-free reaction yields stable products with broad substrate compatibility and full retention of silicon handles in most cases. Besides simple aliphatic and aromatic thiols, this approach is applicable in the labeling of thiols present in proteins, sugars and payloads, thereby expanding the toolbox of thiol conjugation.