Chemosensing Applications of Thiophene Derivatives and Anticancer Potential of Their Platinum-Group Metal Complexes: A Review

Abstract

ABSTRACT Thiophene, a heterocyclic compound characterized by a five-membered ring comprising four carbon atoms and one sulfur atom, has garnered significant attention in recent research due to its versatile applications in medicinal and chemosensing fields. Thiophene derivatives formed complexes with various transition metals. These complexes exhibit promising anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal and other biological properties. Certainly, the complexation phenomenon involving thiophene derivatives can be effectively used for the recognition of various cations. Thiophene-based compounds can act as selective ligands, forming stable complexes with specific heavy metal ions. This property has significant implications for environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and public health, as the presence of heavy metal ions beyond permissible levels can lead to detrimental effects. This paper explored the versatile applications of thiophene derivatives, investigating their chemosensing potential for the determination of various metal ions covering the period from 2018 to 2024. Thiophene derivatives serve as versatile ligands for metal ions and exhibit fluorescence and colorimetric changes for selective detection of metal ions. Additionally, this study also explores the anticancer efficacy demonstrated by metal complexes derived from thiophene, with a specific emphasis on those formed with platinum-group metals (Ir(III), Ru(II), Ru(III), Rh, Os(II), Os(IV), Pd(II), Pt(II)).