What is the Difference Between Imidazole and Triazole?

Imidazole and triazole are both organic compounds with five-membered ring structures, but they have different chemical formulas and properties. The key differences between imidazole and triazole are:

1. Chemical Formula: Imidazole has the chemical formula C3N2H4, while triazole has the chemical formula C2H3N3.
2. Number of Nitrogen Atoms: Imidazole has two nitrogen atoms, and triazole has three nitrogen atoms.
3. Relative Position of Nitrogen Atoms: In imidazole, the nitrogen atoms are non-adjacent, whereas in triazole, the nitrogen atoms are adjacent.
4. Molar Mass: Imidazole has a molar mass of 68.077 g/mol, and triazole has a molar mass of 69.07 g/mol.
5. Boiling Point: Imidazole has a boiling point of 257°C, while triazole has a boiling point of 203°C.
6. Melting Point: Imidazole has a melting point of 90.5°C, and triazole has a melting point of 23 to 25°C.

Imidazole and triazole are both used in the pharmaceutical industry, but they have different mechanisms of action. Imidazoles, such as ketoconazole, miconazole, and clotrimazole, are part of the azole antifungal class and are used to treat various systemic fungal infections. Triazoles, such as fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole, are another group of azole antifungals with a broader antifungal spectrum and a safer profile than imidazoles. The difference in the mechanism of inhibition of the cytochrome P450 enzyme is that the N3 of the imidazole compound binds to the heme iron atom of ferric cytochrome P450, whereas the N4 of the triazoles bind to the heme group. Triazoles have been shown to have a higher specificity for cytochrome P450 than imidazoles, making them more potent.

Comparative Table: Imidazole vs Triazole

Imidazole and triazole are both organic compounds with five-membered ring structures, but they have some differences in their chemical structure and properties. Here is a table comparing the differences between imidazole and triazole:

Imidazole and triazole both show tautomerism and have N-H bonds. Imidazole is an organic compound with the chemical formula C3N2H4, while triazole has the chemical formula C2H3N3. Imidazole has two nitrogen atoms, whereas triazole has three nitrogen atoms in its structure. The nitrogen atoms in imidazole are non-adjacent, while in triazole, they are adjacent.