A review on the chemistry, coordination, structure and biological properties of 1-(acyl/aroyl)-3-(substituted) thioureas

• Published in: Journal of sulfur chemistry Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 318 - 355
• Main Authors: Saeed, Aamer, Flörke, Ulrich, Erben, Mauricio F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 04-05-2014; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: biological activity; Chemistry; Ligands; metal complexation; molecular structure; sulfur chemistry; thiourea; vibrational properties
• ISSN: 1741-5993; 1741-6000
• DOI: 10.1080/17415993.2013.834904

This review provides an overview of the chemistry, structure and potential applications of 1-(acyl/aroyl)-3-(mono-substituted) and 1-(acyl/aroyl)-3,3-(di-substituted) thioureas, with general formula R
1
C(O)N
(1)
HC(S)N
(3)
R
2
R
3
. In recent years, the title compounds have found extensive applications as ligands in coordination chemistry. The effect that nitrogen substituents exert on the intra- and intermolecular hydrogen-bonding interactions is discussed, including their role on the coordination properties displayed by these ligands. Novel applications of transition metal complexes bearing 1-(acyl/aroyl)-3-(mono- and di-substituted) thioureas are introduced. Biological aspects are also highlighted. As recently demonstrated, high-throughput screening assay and structure-activity analyses are feasible for this class of compounds. The chemical versatility of 1-(acyl)-3-(substituted) thiourea molecules and the derived metal complexes, together with the possibility of determining detailed structural properties, join biological applications in a promising interdisciplinary approach. The bibliography includes 382 references with emphasis on the literature appearing after 2007.