Fixed-charge labels for simplified reaction analysis: 5-hydroxy-1,2,3-triazoles as byproducts of a copper(I)-catalyzed click reaction

High-resolution multistage mass spectrometric studies of isotope-labelled derivatives of a fixed-charge labelled sugar triazole assisted the identification of 5-hydroxy-1,2,3-triazoles as byproducts of the copper(I)-catalyzed cycloaddition of azides and terminal alkynes. Reaction optimization with inclusion of the auxiliary ligand, tris(benzyltriazolylmethyl)amine furnished an improved ligation protocol in which formation of the 5-hydroxytriazole is mitigated.