Triazole

A triazole (Htrz) refers to any of the heterocyclic compounds with molecular formula C₂H₃N₃, having a five-membered ring of two carbon atoms and three nitrogen atoms. There are two sets of isomers that differ in the relative positions of the three nitrogen atoms. Each of these has two tautomers that differ by which nitrogen has a hydrogen bonded to it:

• 1,2,3-Triazole

• 
  1H-1,2,3-Triazole
• 
  2H-1,2,3-Triazole

• 1,2,4-Triazole

• 
  1H-1,2,4-Triazole
• 
  4H-1,2,4-Triazole

Derivatives

The triazole antifungal drugs include fluconazole, isavuconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, pramiconazole, ravuconazole, and posaconazole.

The triazole plant protection fungicides include epoxiconazole, triadimenol, propiconazole, prothioconazole, metconazole, cyproconazole, tebuconazole, flusilazole and paclobutrazol.

Benzotriazole is used in chemical photography as a restrainer and fog-suppressant.

Importance in agriculture

Due to spreading resistance of plant pathogens towards fungicides of the strobilurin class, control of fungi such as Septoria tritici or Gibberella zeae relies heavily on triazoles. Food, like store bought potatoes, contain retardants such as triazole or tetcyclacis.

Importance in chemical synthesis

The azide alkyne Huisgen cycloaddition is a mild and selective reaction that gives 1,2,3-triazoles as products. The reaction has been widely used in bioorthogonal chemistry and in organic synthesis. Triazoles are relatively stable functional groups and triazole linkages can be used in a variety of applications (for example, replacing the phosphate backbone of DNA.)

Related heterocycles

• Imidazole, an analog with two nonadjacent nitrogen atoms
• Pyrazole, an analog with two adjacent nitrogen atoms
• Tetrazole, an analog with four nitrogen atoms

External links

• Synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles (overview of recent methods)