Strained alkenes are valuable reagents for rapid and selective labeling of biomolecules but may undergo side-reactions. Here direct excitation of an azobenzene generates a strained nitrogen-nitrogen double bond in situ which reacts with a photochemically-generated nitrile imine, allowing the labeling of live cells with spatiotemporal control.
- Jingshuo Gao
- Qin Xiong
- Zhipeng Yu
