Alexander F. Pozharskii, Soros Professor of Chemistry, Southern Federal University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Anatoly T. Soldatenkov, Professor of Chemistry, Russian People's Friendship University, Moscow, Russia. Alan R. Katritzky, Kenan Professor of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, USA.

• PREFACE TO SECOND ENGLISH EDITION. PREFACE TO FIRST ENGLISH EDITION.1 MOLECULAR RINGS STUDDED WITH JEWELS.1.1 From Homocycle to Heterocycle.1.2 Building Heterocycles from Benzene.1.3 Some More Kinds of Heterocycles.1.4 Problems.1.5 Suggested Reading.2 WHY NATURE PREFERS HETEROCYCLES .2.1 Reactions for All Tastes.2.2 Heterocycles as Acids and Bases.2.3 Heterocycles and Metals.2.4 ‘There are Subtle Ties of Power„m'.2.5 Tautomerism: Heterocycles and Their ‘Masks'.2.6 Problems.2.7 Suggested Reading.3 HETEROCYCLES AND HEREDITARY INFORMATION .3.1 Nucleic Acids.3.2 The Double Helix.3.3 How One DNA Doubles Itself.3.4 Protein Synthesis. Genetic Code and Genome.3.5 What are Mutations?.3.6 Mysterious Telomers.3.7 Gene Expression.3.8 Problems.3.9 Suggested Reading.4 ENZYMES, COENZYMES AND VITAMINS .4.1 Molecular Robots.4.2 Coenzymes and Enzymes as ‘Joint Molecular Ventures'.4.3 Vitamins, the ‘Molecules of Health'.4.4 Ribozymes: Vestiges of an Ancient World.4.5 Problems.4.6 Suggested Reading.5 HETEROCYCLES AND BIOENERGETICS .5.1 ATP as the Universal Currency of Energy.5.2 Breathing.5.3 Problems.5.4 Suggested Reading.6 HETEROCYCLES AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS .6.1 Chlorophyll: Sunlight-receiving Antenna and Energy Carrier.6.2 What Daylight can Achieve.6.3 Photosynthesis without Light.6.4 Problems.6.5 Suggested Reading.7 HETEROCYCLES AND HEALTH.7.1 Medicines from a Natural Storehouse.7.2 Heterocycles versus Infectious Microbes.7.3 Heterocycles and Viral Infections.7.4 Heterocycles and the Diseases of Our Century.7.5 Heterocyclic Molecules in Combat with Ulcer and Sexual Disfunctions.7.6 Problems.7.7 Suggested Reading.8 HETEROCYCLES IN AGRICULTURE .8.1 A Century of Chemical Warfare against Weeds.8.2 Regulators of Plant Growth.8.3 The Struggle against Voracious Insects.8.4 Resisting the Kingdoms of Mustiness and Rot.8.5 Heterocycles in Animal Husbandry.8.6 Combinatorial Chemistry and Functional Genomics in the Synthesis of Biologically Active.Heterocyclic Compounds.8.7 Problems.8.8 Suggested Reading.9 HETEROCYCLES IN INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY.9.1 Heterocycles and Natural Colors.9.2 Dyes.9.3 Fluorescent Agents.9.4 Color Change Compounds.9.5 Fire Retardancy.9.6 Photographic Materials and Recorders of Information.9.7 Heterocycles as Food Additives.9.8 Heterocycles as Cosmetics and Perfumery Ingredients.9.9 Other Applications.9.10 Problems.9.11 Suggested Reading.10 HETEROCYCLES AND SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY .10.1 Molecular Recognition and Host-Guest Interactions.10.2 Self-assembling Molecular Systems.10.3 Problems.10.4 Suggested Reading.11 HETEROCYCLES AND 21st CENTURY CHALLENGES.11.1 Energy Problems.11.2 Ecology and Green Chemistry.11.3 Biotechnology and Related Problems.11.4 From Molecular Devices to Molecular Computer.11.5 Problems.11.6 Suggested Reading.12 THE ORIGIN OF HETEROCYCLES .12.1 Origin of the Universe and Appearance of Chemical Elements.12.2 Iterstellar Molecules.12.3 Organic Compounds in Comets and Meteorites.12.4 Do Heterocycles exist on the Moon and Mars?.12.5 The Atmosphere of Earth and Other Planets.12.6 Heterocycles and the Origin of the Biosphere.12.7 Problems.12.8 Suggested Reading.CONCLUSION.ANSWERS AND REFERENCES TO SELECTED PROBLEMS.INDEX.

Named CHOICE Outstanding Title for 2012"Summing Up: Highly recommended. All students, researchers/faculty, and professionals." (Choice, 1 January 2012)