Thiol-click chemistry: a multifaceted toolbox for small molecule and polymer synthesis.

The merits of thiol-click chemistry and its potential for making new forays into chemical synthesis and materials applications are described. Since thiols react to high yields under benign conditions with a vast range of chemical species, their utility extends to a large number of applications in the chemical, biological, physical, materials and engineering fields. This critical review provides insight into emerging venues for application as well as new mechanistic understanding of this exceptional chemistry in its many forms (81 references).