Everything I read says that maleimides react with thiols above pH 6.5 but I can't find any references actually showing that they won't react below pH 6.5. Will they? And if not, why not?

 

Thanks

 

Jo (a frustrated biologist wishing she'd paid more attention in chemistry class:rolleyes:)

http://www.mobitec.de/probes/docs/sections/0201.pdf - Page 2

 

"The thiol-reactive functional groups are primarily alkylating reagents, including iodoacetamides, maleimides, benzylic halides and bromomethylketones. Arylating reagents such as NBD halides react with thiols or amines by a similar substitution of the aromatic halide. Reaction of any of these functional groups with thiols usually proceeds rapidly at or below room temperature in the physiological pH range (pH 6.5–8.0) to yield chemically stable thioethers."

 

It's not that they don't react below pH 6.5 just probably not very quickly.