SuFEx reactions, in which an S−F moiety reacts with a silyl‐protected phenol, have been developed as powerful click reactions. In the current paper we open up the potential of SuFEx reactions as enantioselective reactions, analyze the role of Si and outline the mechanism of this reaction. As a result, fast, high‐yielding, “Si‐free” and enantiospecific SuFEx reactions of sulfonimidoyl fluorides have been developed, and their mechanism shown, by both experimental and theoretical methods, to yield chiral products.

This Feature Article focuses on recent advances in the bioconjugation of surface-bound zwitterionic polymers for biospecific antifouling surfaces. Various approaches for the functionalization of antifouling zwitterionic polymers are systematically investigated, such as chain-end and side-chain functionalization. Side-chain functionalization methods can be further classified as those that are achieved through homopolymerization of custom-synthesized zwitterionic monomers equipped with reactive groups, or those that are achieved via synthesis of random or block copolymers combining different monomers with antifouling functionality and others with reactive groups. Several of the pros and cons of these approaches are outlined and discussed. Finally, some perspective and future directions of research are presented toward long-term stable, generically repelling surfaces that strongly and specifically adhere to a single component in a complex mixture.

This work presents a new method for the synthesis of antifouling polymer brushes using surface-initiated photoinduced electron transfer-reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer polymerization with eosin Y and triethanolamine as catalysts. This method proceeds in an aqueous environment under atmospheric conditions without any prior degassing and without the use of heavy metal catalysts. The versatility of the method is shown by using three chemically different monomers: oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate, N-(2-hydroxypropyl)methacrylamide, and carboxybetaine methacrylamide. In addition, the light-triggered nature of the polymerization allows the creation of complex three-dimensional structures. The composition and topological structuring of the brushes are confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The kinetics of the polymerizations are followed by measuring the layer thickness with ellipsometry. The polymer brushes demonstrate excellent antifouling properties when exposed to single-protein solutions and complex biological matrices such as diluted bovine serum. This method thus presents a new simple approach for the manufacturing of antifouling coatings for biomedical and biotechnological applications.