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Reference.org
Heterocyclic compound
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<p>A heterocyclic compound or ring structure is a <a href="/facts/Cyclic_compound/TH2ReKIQ">cyclic compound</a> that has atoms of at least two different <a href="/facts/Chemical_element/0jducgWD">elements</a> as members of its ring(s). Heterocyclic organic chemistry is the branch of <a href="/facts/Organic_chemistry/djxhxaNg">organic chemistry</a> dealing with the synthesis, properties, and applications of organic heterocycles. </p><p>Examples of heterocyclic compounds include all of the <a href="/facts/Nucleic_acids/2tTgcI0v">nucleic acids</a>, the majority of drugs, most <a href="/facts/Biomass/4VHjaya3">biomass</a> (<a href="/facts/Cellulose/wYPafTU0">cellulose</a> and related materials), and many natural and synthetic dyes. More than half of known compounds are heterocycles. 59% of US <a href="/facts/FDA/KM9sGre7">FDA</a>-approved drugs contain <a href="/facts/Nitrogen/Nf1QpGDz">nitrogen</a> heterocycles. </p>