The bioinorganic chemistry of methimazole based soft scorpionates

Interest in the biomimetic properties of soft scorpionates based on methimazole commenced shortly after the reported synthesis of the hydrotris(methimazolyl)borate anion (Tm^Me) in 1996. These ligands are thione based and are thus not subject to facile oxidation and disulfide formation (c.f. thiolates). This allows these species to participate in an extensive coordination chemistry with a wide variety of metals. This review focuses on the chemistry of the RTm^R and RBm^R ligands with special reference to their use in biomimetic chemistry (alcohol dehydrogenase, Ada repair proteins, 5-aminolevulinate dehydratase, sulfite oxidase, hydrogenase, MerB) and their emerging use as radiopharmaceuticals (rhenium, technetium).