Vitamin B12 Derivatives Suitably Tailored for the Synthesis of Photolabile Conjugates.

Vitamin B12 conjugates are broadly studied in biological sciences. As light offers spatiotemporal control, we decided to develop a method for the preparation of vitamin B12 conjugates that release tethered molecules upon exposure to light. Herein, we report vitamin B12 derivatives possessing a photolabile linker suitable for conjugation with amines, azides, and alkynes. The potential applications of such conjugates are broad and include the delivery of drugs, labels, and imaging agents to their place of action and spatiotemporal release.