Azole
An azole is a class of five-membered nitrogen heterocyclic ring compounds containing at least one other non-carbon atom of either nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen.[1] The parent compounds are aromatic and have two double bonds; there are successively reduced analogs (azolines and azolidines) with fewer. One, and only one, lone pair of electrons from each heteroatom in the ring is part of the aromatic bonding in an azole. Names of azoles maintain the prefix upon reduction (e.g., pyrazoline, pyrazolidine). The numbering of ring atoms in azoles starts with the heteroatom that is not part of a double bond, and then proceeds towards the other heteroatom.
Imidazole and other six-membered aromatic heterocyclic systems with two nitrogens are extremely common in nature and form the core of many biomolecules
Contents
Compound classes
Azoles
- 1 nitrogen atom (but it only includes one nitrogen and no other heteroatom)
- 2 or more nitrogen atoms
- 1 nitrogen atom and 1 oxygen atom
- 1 nitrogen atom and 1 sulfur atom
A "dioxole" is a similar compound with two oxygen atoms in a five membered ring. Dioxolane is a derivative of dioxole.[clarification needed]
Uses
Many azoles are used as antifungal drugs, inhibiting the fungal enzyme 14α-demethylase which produces ergosterol (an important component of the fungal plasma membrane).
Imidazole-based antifungals
Triazole-based antifungals
Treatment for hyperthyrodism and or thyrotoxicosis
Alpha 1 adrenoreceptor blocker
Precautions
Some people are allergic to azole(s).[2]
Some of these drugs have adverse side effects.[3]
Some azole drugs may disrupt estrogen production in pregnancy, affecting pregnancy outcome.[4]
References
This article incorporates material from the Citizendium article "Azole", which is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License but not under the GFDL.
External links
- Azoles at the US National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
- Nomenclature, IUPAC
