heterocycle
/ˈhɛtərəˌsaɪkəl/
noun
- A chemical compound whose molecules contain a ring structure made of atoms of at least two different elements (usually carbon and another element like nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur).
- Caffeine is a well-known heterocycle found in coffee and tea.
- Many vitamins, such as B12, contain a heterocycle in their molecular structure.
- The chemist synthesized a new heterocycle for use in pharmaceutical research.