Unlocking the potential of thiaheterohelicenes: chemical synthesis as the key

The possibility of combining the electronic properties of oligothiophenes with potential chiroptical properties has fueled research in the area of thiaheterohelicenes. Recent reports that these molecules also exhibit fascinating interactions with biologically important macromolecules place further emphasis on the need for new synthetic methods to access thiaheterohelicenes. This review highlights the synthetic methods currently being used to prepare thiaheterohelicenes and discusses the role that chemical synthesis plays in the exploration of the properties of these helically chiral molecules.