Transition metal bioconjugates with an organometallic link between the metal and the biomolecular scaffold

This overview compiles recent advances in the synthesis and application of organometallic bioconjugates that comprise a metal–carbon linkage between the metal and the biomolecular scaffold. This specific area of bioorganometallic chemistry has been spurred by the discovery of naturally occurring bioorganometallic compounds and afforded organometallic bioconjugates from transition metals binding to amino acids, nucleic acids and other biomolecules. These artificial bioorganometallic compounds have found application in various domains, including catalysis, medicinal chemistry, bioanalysis, and materials science.

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► Organometallics with CM bond between biomolecule and transition metal collated.
► Application in biosensing, medicinal (antitumor, antimalarial, antimicrobial), and catalysis.
► N-heterocyclic carbenes are suitable linkers between biomolecules and metal.
► Various macromolecular and low molecular-weight biochemical scaffolds have been explored.