Benzotetrazine

/ˌbɛnzoʊˈtɛtrəziːn/ noun

Definition

A polycyclic aromatic compound combining benzene with a six-membered nitrogen-containing ring (tetrazine), used in bioorthogonal chemistry.

Etymology

'Benzo-' plus 'tetrazine' (from 'tetra-' four and nitrogen). Tetrazines were developed in the late 20th century specifically for click chemistry applications.

Kelly Says

Benzotetrazines are superstars in modern chemistry—they undergo incredibly fast and selective reactions with other molecules, which is why biomedical researchers use them to tag proteins and track molecules inside living cells with minimal interference.

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