Imidazole is a heterocyclic aromatic amine with a five-member ring containing two non-adjacent nitrogen atoms. It serves as a scaffold in many pharmaceuticals and biochemical compounds. In chemistry and biology, imidazole's basic ring structure stabilizes nitrogen-containing ligands and participates in catalysis and proton transfer.
"The imidazole ring is a key component of histidine and plays a crucial role in enzyme active sites."
"Researchers synthesized an imidazole derivative to improve the drug’s binding affinity."
"Imidazole serves as a starting material for creating various metal–organic frameworks."
"The imidazole-containing compound showed enhanced catalytic activity in the reaction mixture."
Imidazole originates from the combination of imid- (from imide, a nitrogen-containing group) and -azole (a suffix used for azole class heterocycles). The term reflects its heterocyclic nitrogen-rich ring structure. The prefix imid- traces back to European chemical nomenclature in the 19th and early 20th centuries as chemists characterized cardiacopyrimidines and related azoles, with imidazole emerging as a distinct named class when the ring system was synthesized and its properties studied. The first known use in chemical literature appears in the early 20th century as researchers explored azole chemistry and the reactivity of imine-like rings. Over time, imidazole gained prominence due to its biological relevance, being a core component of the histidine amino acid and a scaffold in many pharmacologically active compounds, including antifungal medications like ketoconazole and antifungal azole drugs. Its versatile coordination chemistry with metals further cemented its widespread use in catalysis and material science. Today, imidazole is routinely referenced in organic chemistry, biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, and materials science.
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Words that rhyme with "Imidazole"
-zle sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounce as ˌɪ-mɪ-ˈdæ-zɔl (US/UK). The primary stress falls on the third syllable: im-i-DA-zole. Start with a short 'i' as in 'kit,' then a quick 'mi' cluster, stress the 'da' syllable, and finish with an unrounded 'zol' like 'zole' in 'zol-?,' ensuring the 'z' is clear. Audio参考: listen to chemistry pronunciation guides and Forvo for native speaker examples.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (putting stress on the second syllable: im-ɪ-DA-zol) and mispronouncing the final '-azole' as '-azal' or '-azohl.' Another frequent slip is compressing the middle vowels, producing a rapid 'imidaz-ol' instead of a clean 'im-i-DA-zol.' To correct: (1) maintain stress on the third syllable, (2) pronounce the final '-azole' with a clear 'zɔl' ending, not a 'zol' or 'zol' variant, (3) keep the initial 'i' sounds crisp and short. Practice with slowed recitation and listening to native scientific speakers.
In US, UK, and AU, the initial 'im' is short and clipped; the middle vowels remain consistent, and the stress remains on the third syllable: /ˌɪ.mɪˈdæ.zɔl/. Minor differences: US tends to slightly darker 'aw' in '-zol' than UK and AU, UK may be marginally more clipped on the vowels, and AU follows similar to US with subtle vowel length variation. Rhoticity differences don’t change much for this word, but vowel quality shifts may make the 'æ' sound a touch more open in some UK speakers.
The difficulty stems from the three-syllable stress pattern and the unreduced, mid-front vowels in the 'im-i-da-' part, plus the final 'azole' with the 'ɔl' vowel and /z/ cluster. The 'imid-' sequence has a quick, compressed onset, and the 'azole' ending includes a relatively rare syllable structure in English, requiring precise alveolar 'z' and a rounded 'ɔ' vowel. Mastery requires careful attention to syllable division, stress timing, and mouth positioning for 'd'+'z' consonant cluster.
Imidazole places stress on the third syllable and has a non-initial stressed syllable with a non-trivial consonant cluster at the end (-zɔl). Pay attention to the 'd' followed by a clear 'z' in '-dazole' and keep the 'i' vowels short in the first two syllables. The word’s semicircular tongue position moves from front-high in 'ɪ' to lower-mid 'æ' for the stressed syllable, then bi-lateral rounding in 'ɔ' of the final vowel. Visualize: im-i-DA-zole.
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