Single electron transfer-based peptide/protein bioconjugations driven by biocompatible energy input

Bioconjugation reactions play a central facilitating role in engendering modified peptides and proteins. Early progress in this area was inhibited by challenges such as the limited range of substrates and the relatively poor biocompatibility of bioconjugation reagents. However, the recent developments in visible-light induced photoredox catalysis and electrochemical catalysis reactions have permitted significant novel reactivities to be developed in the field of synthetic and bioconjugation chemistry. This perspective describes recent advances in the use of biocompatible energy input for the modification of peptides and proteins mainly, via the single electron transfer (SET) process, as well as key future developments in this area.