A comprehensive review on 1,2,4-Triazole: Synthesis, properties and therapeutic potential

Over the last two decades, triazoles have been a fascinating heterocyclic scaffold for the synthesis and design of versatile medicinal compounds. 1,2,4- triazoles are extensively employed for their numerous clinical roles, i.e., antifungal, antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tubercular owing to its enzyme-inhibitory activities that targets CYP51, aromatase, and MmpL3. Hence, five-membered aromatic 1,2,4- triazoles have gained potent attention owing to their flexible synthesis route that allows the development of biological compounds in an easy manner. This comprehensive study systematically portrays different conventional and green chemistry approaches for synthesis, different biological properties, and therapeutic potential of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives. Structural properties elucidate the influence of substitution patterns on molecular stability, electronic distribution, and reactivity, which underpin their functional applications. The present study emphasized emerging therapeutic potential of 1,2,4-triazole-MOFs, including designing of controlled drug delivery systems, theronostics, biosensors, and corrosion inhibitors. The structural flexibility, surface functionality, biocompatibility, and biodegradability not only enable MOFs for encapsulating myriad therapeutics (small molecules-macromolecules) but also protect compounds from enzymatic degradation. Moreover, the intrinsic magnetic and luminescent features of certain 1,2,4-linked MOFs pose a versatile arena for the development of theranostics, real-time imaging, and combined drug delivery.