A Review of Cationic Arylfurans and Their Isosteres: Synthesis and Biological Importance

The present study provides an overview of the chemistry and biological importance of the cationic chalcophene derivatives (furans, thiophenes and selenophenes). The summarized literature survey includes synthetic methods, reactivity and biological activities of aryl/hetarylchalcophenes that have been reported mainly from 2001 to 2019 focusing on monochalcophenes. A discussion demonstrating the proposed mechanisms of some interesting synthetic routes and linking structure features to biological activities is presented. These classes of compounds including cationic chalcophenes possess antiproliferative, antimicrobial and antiprotozoal activities. This review highlights recent advances for arylchalcophene derivatives and may contribute to the design and structure optimization of new chalcophene derivatives in the future.