1. A cyclic organic compound whose ring contains atoms of two or more different elements, typically carbon and nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.
Usage: chemistry; technical

Examples

• Pyridine is a common heterocycle used in pharmaceutical synthesis.
• The heterocycle contains both carbon and nitrogen atoms in its ring structure.
• Many drugs are based on heterocycle scaffolds.
• Imidazole is a five-membered heterocycle important in biochemistry.
• Chemists often modify heterocycles to improve drug properties.