Heterocycles are ubiquitous in nature, with manifold industrial applications, and in all aspects of our life. In nature they occur in multiple forms, and they possess enormous biochemical significance – “the molecules of life.” The applications of heterocycles that are drawn from chemistry, biology, medicine, agriculture, and industry are legion.
A heterocyclic compound or ring structure is a cyclic compound that has atoms of at least two different elements as members of its ring(s).Heterocyclic chemistry is the branch of organic chemistry dealing with the synthesis, properties, and applications of these heterocycles.
Examples of heterocyclic compounds include all of the nucleic acids, the majority of drugs, most biomass (cellulose and related materials), and many natural and synthetic dyes