Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Spatiotemporal Control of Protein Activity through Optogenetic Allosteric Regulation
Published on: October 4, 2024
Near-Quantitative Formation of Imines in Water with Allosteric Control
Tommaso Marchetti1, Lorenzo Goldin1, Benjamin M W Roberts1
1Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padua, Via Marzolo 1, Padua 35131, Italy.
Abstract:
We demonstrate the near-quantitative formation of an imine bond in water under physiologically relevant conditions using a stoichiometric ratio of aldehyde and amine. To overcome the low hydrolytic stability of imines in water, a complementary metal coordination bond between the amine and aldehyde monomers is introduced to enhance the thermodynamic stability of the imine. Imine bond formation is substrate-selective, tolerates the presence of a variety of functional groups, and produces imines that are stable in a broad pH range. We also show that the presence of a second metal-ion complex in the building blocks provides a regulatory handle to 'switch on' imine-bond formation using ATP as an external allosteric effector.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine Formation Mechanism
Imines are formed under mildly acidic conditions. A pH of 4.5 is ideal for the reaction.
If the pH is low or the solution is too acidic, the reaction slows down in the...
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions
Cooperative Allosteric Transitions
Aldehydes and Ketones with Amines: Imine and Enamine Formation Overview
Aldehydes and Ketones with Water: Hydrate Formation
The formation of hydrates is a reversible reaction. Hydrate formation is influenced by steric and electronic factors accompanying the alkyl substituents on the carbonyl group: The rate of hydrate formation increases with a decrease in the number of alkyl groups attached to the carbonyl carbon. Hence,...

