I would like to know if the cross-linker BM(PEG)n can react with aromatic thiols (more precisely with the TNB2- resulted from the Ellman's reagent that reacted with a thiol).
BM(PEG)n is a maleimide, and as such it is expected to react with any thiolate. TNB should react with BM(PEG)n more or less as it does with NEM. The reaction of TNB with NEM was detailed in:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19664585
It is in the supplementary information (Fig. S1). Also in the paper they describe a number of advantages and drawbacks of the work with maleimide. I'm sending you the SI attached. I hope this helps.