雜環(huán)化合物是指其分子由含有除碳以外至少一個(gè)原子的環(huán)表征的任何有機(jī)化合物。這些化合物在結(jié)構(gòu)上與環(huán)狀有機(jī)碳?xì)浠衔锵嗨疲湫再|(zhì)可能與碳?xì)浠衔锏男再|(zhì)大不相同，并在很大程度上取決于分子中存在的雜原子的特性、位置和數(shù)量。正是這種豐富多樣的物理和生物特性導(dǎo)致了對(duì)雜環(huán)化合物的深入研究。由此可知，雜環(huán)化學(xué)是對(duì)雜環(huán)化合物各個(gè)方面的研究。雜環(huán)化學(xué)起源于有機(jī)合成、天然產(chǎn)物化學(xué)和藥物化學(xué)。實(shí)際上，大多數(shù)雜環(huán)化學(xué)家也會(huì)認(rèn)為自己是有機(jī)化學(xué)家，許多人也會(huì)認(rèn)為自己是天然產(chǎn)物化學(xué)家和藥物化學(xué)家。學(xué)科之間的這種關(guān)系之所以產(chǎn)生，是因?yàn)殡s環(huán)分子是生物系統(tǒng)的基本組成部分。雜環(huán)化學(xué)不僅對(duì)生物學(xué)有重要意義，而且在染料、光敏劑、配位化合物、高分子材料等許多領(lǐng)域都有著廣泛的研究。

A heterocyclic compound is defined as any organic compound where their molecules are characterized by rings containing at least one atom other than carbon. These compounds are structurally similar to cyclic organic hydrocarbons, but their properties can vary widely from those of their hydrocarbon counterparts and are largely governed by the identity, location and number of heteroatoms present in the molecule. It is this rich diversity of physical and biological properties that has led to intense study of heterocyclic compounds. It follows then that Heterocyclic Chemistry is the study of all aspects of heterocyclic compounds.Heterocyclic chemistry has its origin in organic synthesis, natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. Indeed most any heterocyclic chemist will also consider themselves organic chemists and many will consider themselves to be natural products chemists and medicinal chemists as well. This relationship between disciplines arises because heterocyclic molecules are fundamental building blocks of biological systems. In addition to its importance to biology, heterocyclic chemistry has seen intense study in diverse areas such as dyes, photosensitizers, coordination compounds, polymeric materials and many other fields.