azole

chemical compound

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 20, 2026

Quick Summary

Azoles are a class of organic compounds characterized by a five-membered ring containing at least one nitrogen atom. This structural feature makes them heterocyclic compounds.1

A significant application of azoles is in medicine, particularly as antifungal drugs. These drugs work by interfering with the synthesis of ergosterol, a vital component of fungal cell membranes. Azoles are divided into imidazoles and triazoles, with various members used topically or systemically to treat a range of fungal infections, from skin conditions to deep tissue infections.2

While not found in nature, related compounds like pyrazoles are synthesized and used in dyes and medicines. Other azole derivatives have also found applications in areas like anticancer drugs and industrial chemicals.34

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

antifungal drug
The azoles
The azole antifungal agents, which are further divided into the imidazoles and triazoles, according to the number of nitrogen molecules in their organic ring structure, exert their effects by binding to fungal membranes and blocking the synthesis of fungal lipids, especially ergosterol. The azoles…
Read More
The azole antifungal agents, which are further divided into the imidazoles and triazoles, according to the number of nitrogen molecules in their organic ring structure, exert their effects by binding to fungal membranes and blocking the synthesis of fungal lipids, especially ergosterol. The azoles…
Read More