imidazole
[‚im·ə′da‚zōl] (organic chemistry)
C3H4N2 One of a group of organic heterocyclic compounds containing a five-membered diunsaturated ring with two nonadjacent nitrogen atoms as part of the ring; the particular compound imidazole is a member of the group.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Imidazole
(glyoxaline, 1,3-diazole) a heterocyclic base. Colorless crystals; boiling point, 256°C. Imidazole is readily soluble i n water and alcohol and moderately soluble in ether. It is aromatic, that is, readily undergoes halogenation, nitration, and sulfonation. The hydrogen of the NH group can be replaced by alkyl by the action of, for example, dimethylsulfate. Imidazole is prepared by reacting glyoxalwith ammonia and formaldehyde. Its derivatives (histamin, histidine, carnosine, pilocarpine) are widely distributed in the animal and plant worlds and have important biological significance. [10–416-6 ]
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.