P-Azidophenacyl bromide, a versatile photolabile bifunctional reagent. Reaction with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

The synthesis of the photochemically labile bifunctional reagent p-azidophenacyl bromide (1) is described. This compound may be covalently attached to a known site of an enzyme or other macromolecule by nucleophilic displacement at the alpha-bromo ketone moiety. Subsequent irradiation of the bound reagent gives a nitrene which may insert into a second portion of the enzyme forming a cross-link. Regeant 1 proved to be an excellent inhibitor of rabbit muscle glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.