azocyclic
|a-zo-cy-clic|
🇺🇸
/ˌeɪzoʊˈsaɪklɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌeɪzəʊˈsaɪklɪk/
ring containing an azo linkage
Etymology
'azocyclic' is formed from the chemical prefix 'azo-' (from French 'azote', ultimately from Greek 'azōtos') and the word 'cyclic' (from Greek 'kyklos' via Latin and French), where 'azo-' relates to nitrogen/azo-group and 'cyclic' means 'circle' or 'ring'.
'azo-' entered chemical usage in the 19th century from French 'azote' (coined for nitrogen) and combined with 'cyclic' in modern chemical nomenclature to form compounds and adjectives such as 'azocyclic' to describe ring systems containing azo linkages.
Originally 'azo-' referred broadly to nitrogen-related chemical names (from 'azote'). Combined as 'azocyclic', the term has been used specifically to denote cyclic structures containing an azo (–N=N–) linkage; this technical meaning has been stable in modern organic chemistry, though occasional confusion with 'azacyclic' has occurred.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
containing an azo group (–N=N–) that is incorporated into a cyclic (ring) structure; describing a cyclic compound in which an azo linkage is part of the ring.
The chemists reported a new azocyclic dye with improved stability.
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Adjective 2
sometimes (by confusion or misusage) used to mean 'azacyclic' — i.e., containing a nitrogen atom within a ring (a heterocyclic ring where a carbon is replaced by nitrogen).
In some older papers 'azocyclic' is used where 'azacyclic' (nitrogen-containing ring) was intended.
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Last updated: 2025/12/07 13:18