Collagen cross-linker and uses thereof

A method for producing a collagen crosslinker mixture, comprising the steps of:

• mixing a tricarbonyl benzene compound with a catecholamine to generate a mixture comprising molecules of the forms TRI-1 and TRI-2, with TRI-1 having the structure:
• wherein R1-R15 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halides, hydroxides, amines, linear alkyls, branched alkyls, cyclic alkyls, heteroalkyls, alkenyls, and alkynyl, and further wherein R16-R18 are independently selected alkyl groups;
• and with TRI-2 having the structure:
• wherein R1-R11 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halides, hydroxides, amines, linear alkyls, branched alkyls, cyclic alkyls, heteroalkyls, alkenyls, and alkynyls, and further wherein R12 and R13 are independently selected alkyl groups;
• reacting the mixture with a reducing agent;
• and,
• adding an alcohol to the mixture to obtain a mixture comprising TRI-1, TRI-2, and TRI-3, with TRI-3 having the structure:
• wherein R1-R12 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halides, hydroxides, amines, linear alkyls, branched alkyls, cyclic alkyls, heteroalkyls, alkenyls, and alkynyls, and further wherein R13 and R14 are independently selected alkyl groups.

A dentin treatment mixture, said mixture comprising:

• a dental adhesive;
• and
• a collagen crosslinker mixture comprising at least one of:
• a collagen crosslinker TRI-1 having the structure:
• wherein R1-R15 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halides, hydroxides, amines, linear alkyls, branched alkyls, cyclic alkyls, heteroalkyls, alkenyls, and alkynyls, and further wherein R16-R18 are independently selected alkyl groups;
• a collagen crosslinker TRI-2 having the structure
• wherein R1-R11 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halides, hydroxides, amines, linear alkyls, branched alkyls, cyclic alkyls, heteroalkyls, alkenyls, and alkynyls, and further wherein R12 and R13 are independently selected alkyl groups;
• and,
• a collagen crosslinker TRI-3, having the structure:
• wherein R1-R12 are each independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halides, hydroxides, amines, linear alkyls, branched alkyls, cyclic alkyls, heteroalkyls, alkenyls, and alkynyls, and further wherein R13 and R14 are independently selected alkyl groups