Scientific Study from the year 2018 in the subject Chemistry - Organic Chemistry, grade: A, , language: English, abstract: Heterocyclic chemistry is one of the largest branches of chemistry. Well over six million discrete heterocyclic compounds are known, reflecting their central and important role in Science and Technology. The usefulness of heterocycles is due to their combination of compact and robust molecular structures with a high degree of molecular diversity that results in properties, which can be finely adjusted to the needs of sophisticated applications. This is well illustrated by the functions of many naturally occurring heterocycles that are essential components of living cells, including DNA in which specific nitrogen heterocycles are directly responsible for encoding all genetic information. Morphine and quinine, two of the earliest compounds to be used in therapy and in use today, are both heterocyclic natural products. William Perkin¿s synthesis of the lucrative quinine molecule in 1856 led to the discovery of an important synthetic heterocycle, mauveine, and this laid the foundation of the synthetic dye industry. This in turn gave birth to the modern industry when in 1932 the antibacterial properties of the dye lead to the discovery of heterocyclic sulfapyridines. These antibacterial agents were the first major life saving synthetic drugs and they quickly had a dramatic effect on the quality of life.

Dr Rafia Bashir is working as a Faculty in the Department of Chemistry at the National Institute of Technology, Srinagar since 2011. She received her graduate degree from the University of Kashmir and her masters and PhD degrees in chemistry from Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi. Her research activities have been in organic, organic synthesis, natural products, polymer, and environmental chemistry. Dr. Rafia has published various research papers in international reputed journal (cited in Scopus and Elsevier) and has attended many national as well as international conferences and workshops. Dr. Rafia is a member of many science academies and reviewer of many reputed journals.