Imidazole

Imidazole (ImH) is an <a href="/facts/Organic_compound/gqCNaN45">organic compound</a> with the formula (CH)3(NH)N. It is a white or colourless solid that is soluble in water, producing a mildly <a href="/facts/Alkali/s6NqPGSP">alkaline</a> solution. It can be classified as a <a href="/facts/Heterocycle/8oYSjJxY">heterocycle</a>, specifically as a <a href="/facts/Diazole/BSNDTSKX">diazole</a>.
Many natural products, especially <a href="/facts/Alkaloid/m6hUXohz">alkaloids</a>, contain the imidazole ring. These imidazoles share the 1,3-C3N2 ring but feature varied substituents. This ring system is present in important biological building blocks, such as <a href="/facts/Histidine/le7781NF">histidine</a> and the related hormone <a href="/facts/Histamine/Vfjda665">histamine</a>. Many drugs contain an imidazole ring, such as certain <a href="/facts/Antifungal_drug/WEk5nS2B">antifungal drugs</a>, the <a href="/facts/Nitroimidazole/EhhbAjNj">nitroimidazole</a> series of <a href="/facts/Antibiotics/sF1kIfxg">antibiotics</a>, and the sedative <a href="/facts/Midazolam/mpw0AEvr">midazolam</a>.
When fused to a <a href="/facts/Pyrimidine/uFRSB8Cq">pyrimidine</a> ring, it forms a <a href="/facts/Purine/9ogLp0Wc">purine</a>, which is the most widely occurring nitrogen-containing <a href="/facts/Heterocyclic_compound/8oYSjJxY">heterocycle</a> in nature.
The name "imidazole" was coined in 1887 by the German chemist <a href="/facts/Arthur_Rudolf_Hantzsch/6zhNlkmB">Arthur Rudolf Hantzsch</a> (1857–1935).

Imidazole open-in-new

Imidazole