Heterocyclic

Heterocyclic

Heterocyclic (pronunciation: /ˌhɛtəroʊˈsaɪklɪk/) is a term used in organic chemistry to describe cyclic compounds that have atoms of at least two different elements as members of its rings.

Etymology

The term "heterocyclic" is derived from the Greek words "heteros" meaning different, and "kyklos" meaning circle or ring.

Related Terms

• Heterocyclic compound
• Heterocyclic amine
• Heterocyclic aromatic amine
• Heterocyclic chemistry

Definition

Heterocyclic compounds, or simply heterocycles, are organic compounds that contain a ring structure containing atoms in addition to carbon, such as sulfur, oxygen or nitrogen, as part of the ring. They may occur in either simple aromatic systems or non-aromatic systems. Some examples include pyridine, pyrimidine, and dioxin.

Importance in Medicine

Heterocyclic compounds are of great importance in medicinal chemistry due to their wide range of biological activities. Many drugs, including antibiotics, antifungal agents, and antidepressants, contain heterocyclic rings.

See Also

• Cyclic compound
• Aromatic compound
• Organic compound

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Heterocyclic
• Wikipedia's article - Heterocyclic

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