N-Me-N-bis(PEG2-propargyl) | CAS 1835759-84-6

N-Me-N-bis(PEG2-propargyl) is a multifunctional, PEG-based propargylated reagent designed for copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) click chemistry. Its bis-propargyl architecture enables efficient installation of two terminal alkynes on a single PEG scaffold, which is particularly useful when building multivalent conjugates, crosslinked networks, or spacing-controlled biomolecular assemblies. The reagent’s water-compatible PEG character makes it a common choice for creating soluble linkers and click-ready intermediates used in chemical biology, materials functionalization, and molecular imaging probe development.

1. Multivalent Biomolecule Labeling

N-Me-N-bis(PEG2-propargyl) is widely used to generate multivalent click handles for labeling biomolecules such as peptides, proteins, and nucleic-acid derivatives that require controlled valency and improved solubility. Researchers incorporate this bis-propargyl PEG scaffold to introduce two alkyne termini that can be coupled to azide-bearing partners in a modular workflow, supporting the construction of higher-avidity binding reagents, affinity probes, and orthogonally addressable conjugates. The PEG spacer helps maintain aqueous compatibility and reduces nonspecific aggregation during conjugation and downstream handling, which is valuable in routine assay and imaging reagent preparation.

2. Click-Enabled Hydrogel Crosslinking

N-Me-N-bis(PEG2-propargyl) is used as a crosslinking component in PEG-based hydrogel systems where azide-functional macromers or crosslinkers are available for CuAAC coupling. In biomaterials research, the bis-propargyl functionality supports the formation of network structures with tunable crosslink density, enabling reproducible material fabrication for cell-interaction studies, diffusion-controlled delivery platforms, and in vitro microenvironment models. Because the reagent provides a compact PEG-based linker with two reactive termini, it is frequently selected to achieve consistent gelation behavior and to maintain water-rich, biocompatible material characteristics during scaffold formation.

3. Molecular Imaging Probe Construction

N-Me-N-bis(PEG2-propargyl) serves as a practical PEG linker for assembling azide-functional imaging reporters into click-ready probe architectures. Molecular imaging and chemical biology groups commonly use the reagent to append alkyne handles to targeting moieties, fluorophores, or reporter scaffolds, then perform CuAAC coupling to install imaging tags with controlled spacing and reduced steric congestion. The bis-propargyl design is especially helpful when probes benefit from multivalent presentation or when two distinct azide-bearing components must be incorporated into a single construct under a streamlined conjugation scheme.

4. Surface and Nanomaterial Functionalization

N-Me-N-bis(PEG2-propargyl) is employed to functionalize surfaces and nanomaterials with well-defined alkyne chemistry for subsequent azide-mediated click attachment. Materials scientists use the reagent to create PEGylated, reactive coatings that improve colloidal stability and reduce nonspecific adsorption while providing terminal alkynes for stepwise coupling to azide-functional biomolecules, affinity ligands, or detection reagents. This approach is commonly adopted in workflows that require modular surface chemistry, such as preparing clickable interfaces for biosensing platforms, particle-based assay reagents, and extracellular-matrix-mimetic material coatings.