Heterocyclic chemistry

The history of hetero-cycles began its journey in the early nineteenth century when Luigi Brugnatelli first isolated
the heterocyclic compound alloxan (2,4,5,6-pyrimidinetetrone) in 18181. It is a very important branch of organic
chemistry accounting for nearly one-third of modern publications. In fact two thirds of organic compounds are
heterocyclic compounds. A cyclic organic compound having all carbon atoms in ring formation is referred to as
carbocyclic compound. If at least one atom other than carbon forms a part of the ring system then it is
designated as a heterocyclic compound. Nitrogen, Oxygen and Sulfur are the common heteroatoms but
heterocyclic rings containing other hetero atoms are also widely known 2.There is significant and continuous
concern in the chemistry of five-membered N-heterocyclic compounds, mainly tetrazole, triazoles, and their
substituted derivatives. Five-membered Nheterocyclic compounds are important structural fragments and
considered as biologically active compounds. In 1885, Bladin was the first scientist who gave the name triazole to
the carbon nitrogen ring system3.
Triazole
Triazole, also known as pyrrodiazole, is one of the classes of organic heterocyclic compounds containing a five
membered diunsaturated ring structure composed of three nitrogen atoms and two carbon atoms at non-adjacent
positions.

Tautomers of 1,2,4-triazoles
1,2,4-triazoles exists in two tautomeric forms. 1H and 4H-1,2,4- triazole is considered to be pharma- cologically
important nucleus

4.
Methods of synthesis
Pellizzari Reaction
The synthesis of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives by the mixture of amide and acyl hydrazide is generally referred to as
the Pellizzari Reaction . It has been reported that heating the mixture of formamide and hydrazine hydrochloride
with KOH yield of 1,2,4-triazole. For example benzamide and benzoyl hydrazide gave 3,5-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazole

Einhorn- Brunner Reaction

The synthesis of 1,2,4-triazoles by condensation between hydrazines or mono substituted hydrazine and
diacylamines in the presence of weak acid is known as the Einhorn–Brunner reaction. For example: N-formyl
benzamide and phenyl hydrazine gave 1,5-diphenyl- 1,2,4-triazole .

Pharmacological activities of 1,2,4- triazole derivatives

1,2,4-Triazole and its derivatives possess widely differing activities e.g. antibacterial 7-14, antifungal 15,16,
anticancer17-25, antituberculer , anti-inflammatory29,30, analgesic31, antiviral32,33, anti-nociceptive34-36, anti-
convulsant37-40, anti-corrosive41, antihelmentic, antioxidant43-47, urease & lipase inhibitors48, hypoglycaemic49,anti-
migraine, anti-proliferative, sedative, diuretic, muscle relaxant and anti- HIV .