Azaindole is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C8H7N. The word "azaindole" is pronounced "əˈzaɪnˌdoʊl" according to the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). The first syllable "a-zai" rhymes with "a-sky". The second syllable "n-dole" rhymes with the word "pole". The spelling of the word "azaindole" reflects the presence of both nitrogen and carbon atoms in its molecular structure. This heterocyclic compound is commonly used in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery research.
Azaindole is a term used to describe a class of heterocyclic organic compounds that is derived from indole by replacing one or more carbon atoms with nitrogen. Specifically, azaindole is characterized by having a nitrogen atom in the carbon ring structure, thus making it an indole derivative where at least one carbon atom in the core structure is substituted by a nitrogen atom. This substitution can occur in the position where the nitrogen atom directly replaces a carbon atom, or it may be present in various positions throughout the structure.
Azaindoles are commonly used in the field of medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical research due to their ability to modulate and interact with biological targets, such as enzymes and receptors. They offer a unique scaffold for the development of therapeutic agents, as the presence of the nitrogen atom can influence their biological activity and affect their pharmacokinetic properties.
The structural diversity of azaindoles makes them particularly interesting for the design and synthesis of new molecules with potential medicinal applications. Researchers often modify the substitution patterns around the nitrogen atom to fine-tune the properties of these compounds and optimize their desired activities. The distinctive properties of azaindoles have also made them attractive targets for organic synthesis, as various methods have been developed to access them efficiently.
The word "azaindole" is a compound term derived from two components: "aza-" and "indole".
1. "Aza-" is a prefix used in organic chemistry to indicate the replacement of a carbon atom with a nitrogen atom within a specific compound. In this case, the nitrogen atom replaces one of the carbon atoms in the indole molecule.
2. "Indole" is a term derived from the Latin word "indolum", which translates to "violet" or "indigo". It refers to a heterocyclic organic compound consisting of a benzene ring fused with a pyrrole ring.
Therefore, "azaindole" can be defined as an organic compound that is structurally similar to indole but with a nitrogen atom replacing one of the carbon atoms.