A copper catalyzed click chemistry ligation process is employed to bind azides and terminal acetylenes to provide 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole triazoles. The process comprises contacting a solution of an organic azide and a terminal alkyne with a source of catalytic Cu(I) ion to form a 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazole, wherein the source of Cu(I) ion comprises Cu(II) and a metal capable of reducing Cu(II) to Cu(I). In some embodiments, the metal capable of reducing Cu(II) to Cu(I) is selected from the group consisting of Al, Be, Co, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, and Zn.