Which simple heterocyclic compounds have five-membered rings?
The most well-known simple heterocyclic compounds featuring five-membered rings are pyrrole, furan, and thiophene.12
These aromatic compounds are characterized by a ring structure composed of four carbon atoms and one heteroatom—nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur, respectively. Additionally, selenophene is a recognized five-membered heterocyclic compound that contains a selenium atom and exhibits chemical behavior similar to thiophene.13
While these represent the parent aromatic structures, their saturated derivatives are also significant:
* Pyrrolidine: The saturated form of pyrrole.2
* Tetrahydrofuran: The saturated form of furan, which is notably found in the furanose ring structures of essential sugars like ribose and deoxyribose.2
* Thiophane: The saturated form of thiophene.2