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 EDITIONPREFACE TO FIRST ENGLISH EDITION 1 MOLECULAR RINGS STUDDED WITH JEWELS1.1 From Homocycle to Heterocycle1.2 Building Heterocycles from Benzene1.3 Some More Kinds of Heterocycles1.4 Problems1.5 Suggested Reading2 WHY NATURE PREFERS HETEROCYCLES2.1 Reactions for All Tastes2.2 Heterocycles as Acids and Bases2.3 Heterocycles and Metals2.4 ‘There are Subtle Ties of Power...'2.5 Tautomerism: Heterocycles and Their ‘Masks'2.6 Problems2.7 Suggested Reading3 HETEROCYCLES AND HEREDITARY INFORMATION3.1 Nucleic Acids3.2 The Double Helix3.3 How One DNA Doubles Itself3.4 Protein Synthesis. Genetic Code and Genome3.5 What are Mutations?3.6 Mysterious Telomers3.7 Gene Expression3.8 Problems3.9 Suggested Reading4 ENZYMES, COENZYMES AND VITAMINS4.1 Molecular Robots4.2 Coenzymes and Enzymes as ‘Joint Molecular Ventures'4.3 Vitamins, the ‘Molecules of Health'4.4 Ribozymes: Vestiges of an Ancient World4.5 Problems4.6 Suggested Reading5 HETEROCYCLES AND BIOENERGETICS5.1 ATP as the Universal Currency of Energy5.2 Breathing5.3 Problems5.4 Suggested Reading6 HETEROCYCLES AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS6.1 Chlorophyll: Sunlight-receiving Antenna and Energy Carrier6.2 What Daylight can Achieve6.3 Photosynthesis without Light6.4 Problems6.5 Suggested Reading7 HETEROCYCLES AND HEALTH7.1 Medicines from a Natural Storehouse7.2 Heterocycles versus Infectious Microbes7.3 Heterocycles and Viral Infections7.4 Heterocycles and the Diseases of Our Century7.5 Heterocyclic Molecules in Combat with Ulcer and Sexual Disfunctions7.6 Problems7.7 Suggested Reading8 HETEROCYCLES IN AGRICULTURE8.1 A Century of Chemical Warfare against Weeds8.2 Regulators of Plant Growth8.3 The Struggle against Voracious Insects8.4 Resisting the Kingdoms of Mustiness and Rot8.5 Heterocycles in Animal Husbandry8.6 Combinatorial Chemistry and Functional Genomics in the Synthesis of Biologically ActiveHeterocyclic Compounds8.7 Problems8.8 Suggested Reading9 HETEROCYCLES IN INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY9.1 Heterocycles and Natural Colors9.2 Dyes9.3 Fluorescent Agents9.4 Color Change Compounds9.5 Fire Retardancy9.6 Photographic Materials and Recorders of Information9.7 Heterocycles as Food Additives9.8 Heterocycles as Cosmetics and Perfumery Ingredients9.9 Other Applications9.10 Problems9.11 Suggested Reading10 HETEROCYCLES AND SUPRAMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY10.1 Molecular Recognition and Host-Guest Interactions10.2 Self-assembling Molecular Systems10.3 Problems10.4 Suggested Reading11 HETEROCYCLES AND 21st CENTURY CHALLENGES11.1 Energy Problems11.2 Ecology and Green Chemistry11.3 Biotechnology and Related Problems11.4 From Molecular Devices to Molecular Computer11.5 Problems11.6 Suggested Reading12 THE ORIGIN OF HETEROCYCLES12.1 Origin of the Universe and Appearance of Chemical Elements12.2 Iterstellar Molecules12.3 Organic Compounds in Comets and Meteorites12.4 Do Heterocycles exist on the Moon and Mars?12.5 The Atmosphere of Earth and Other Planets12.6 Heterocycles and the Origin of the Biosphere12.7 Problems12.8 Suggested ReadingCONCLUSIONANSWERS AND REFERENCES TO SELECTED PROBLEMSINDEX

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