Size-selective derivatizations with polymer immobilized reagents

A reagent immobilized on a macroporous polymer support was prepared for size selective derivatizations. These derivatization reagents showed two distinct reaction zones. Sterically bulky analytes were denied access to some of the surface of the support, so that when reagent on the outer surface was exhausted from the support, only analytes that had fail access to all regions of the support could react. These reagents were applied to the derivatization of different amines in the presence of a high concentration of a bulky analyte, adamantanamine. Pore size measurements and determination of molecular dimensions also support a size-selective derivatization mechanism. The reagents were also applied to the derivatization of proteins. Proteins with several sites available for tagging shows a reduced number of products with size selective reagents, reflecting reactions only at sites accessible to the reagent.