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Which elements most commonly serve as heteroatoms in heterocyclic compounds?
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heterocyclic compound
There are many different sulfur-containing heterocycles. One of the best known is thiophene, C4H4S, derivatives of which occur as plant pigments and as other natural products such as biotin.
In chemistry, the most common elements that serve as heteroatoms in heterocyclic compounds are nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur.123
While a wide variety of other elements can form heterocyclic rings, these three are the most prevalent, particularly in five- and six-membered ring structures. Examples of well-known compounds featuring these heteroatoms include:12
Although other elements can be incorporated into ring structures, such compounds are currently of limited practical importance compared to those containing nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur.2