about Heterocycles

Preface to Heterocycles

Preface to Heterocycles

PREFACE
Heterocycles, 2003, 61, 1

Thirty years ago Heterocycles became the first international organic chemistry journal published in Japan, an event that owed much to the vision, energy and enthusiastic support of Professor Tetsuji Kametani of Tohoku University. It was not long before the new journal, with its elegantly distinctive black cover suggesting japanese lacquer, established itself in what is one of the largest areas of organic chemistry. It includes most of those natural products which combine fascinating structures and medically relevant biological properties. Under the editorship of Dr. Keiichiro Fukumoto, Heterocycles introduced a number of novel and highly successful features to the journal, in addition to its well-known Reviews and Communications.
I refer to the inclusion, in alternate issues, of sections on "New Heterocyclic Natural Products", and on "Total Synthesis of Heterocyclic Natural Products". These extremely valuable and unique surveys, started in 1975, have been an important contribution to the field. The recent publication of a compendium, published as the last issue of the year, which gathers the structure and stereochemistry of practically all the new heterocyclic natural products isolated or synthesized during that year is a beautifully produced, much appreciated, and eagerly awaited contribution by this outstanding journal. May it long continue in its successful path.

Gilbert Stork
28-Aug-03

PREFACE
Heterocycles, 2003, 61, 2

This special edition of HETEROCYCLES celebrates its 30th year of publication. Back in the early 1970s, I think it is fair to say that heterocyclic chemistry was still considered to be a specialty field of particular interest to natural product and medicinal chemistry, probably meriting special treatment in a specialized journal, but of peripheral interest to the large majority of mainstream organic chemists. How this situation has changed! Heterocycles are now thoroughly integrated into the warp and woof of almost all of organic and medicinal chemistry. The varied uses of heterocycles -- as structural motifs for new materials, as protecting groups, as unique solvents and reagents, as latent functionalities in organic synthesis, as chemical entities that can be modified and substituted, but then destroyed to create new, non-heterocyclic or heterocyclic products --constitute an integral part of modern synthetic methodology. Heterocyclic compounds far outnumber aliphatic and carbocyclic compounds, and it has been estimated that some 85-90% of all publications today in organic chemistry utilize or are concerned in one way or another with heterocycles. The broad area of natural products -- alkaloids, DNA, vitamins, hormones, sugars, antibiotics, drugs, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, dyes -- is dominated by heterocycles. So what is the role of a journal that aims to cover this immense field?

HETEROCYCLES is a quality journal dedicated to the presentation of new chemistry, the synthesis and properties of new heterocyclic systems, new applications and new properties of known heterocycles, and up-to-date reviews of specific topics. Its occasional compilations of new heterocyclic natural products, and new total syntheses of heterocyclic natural products, is simply invaluable, and this service now been supplemented by a recently launched, unique, internet-accessible database on the synthesis and/or structure of natural products with heterocyclic ring systems, covering the period 1975-2003.
The 30 years of HETEROCYCLES have mirrored, inspired and forecasted the current status of heterocycles in organic chemistry. The Editors have been exceptionally conscientious, with reviewing policies that are among the most penetrating, thorough and helpful in modern chemical publications. The contributions of this journal to the present-day significance of heterocyclic chemistry have been seminal, for which the entire community of chemists can be grateful.

Edward C. Taylor
A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Organic Chemistry Emeritus
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey 08544
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PREFACE of the Special Issue "30 Years Heterocycles"
Heterocycles, 2003, 61, 3

During the late 1960s Professor Tetsuji Kametani, then at Tohoku University in Sendai, Japan, visited the United States and came to see me at Hoffmann La-Roche in Nutley, New Jersey, where I was Director of Chemistry. He wanted my opinion on the conception and publication of a new journal with the title 'Heterocycles' that would cover original accounts of research on organic and physical chemistry of synthetic compounds and natural products having a heterocyclic system. I felt highly honored to be included amongst Professor Kametani's circle of friends, and both liked the man very much and admired his eloquent work on isoquinoline alkaloids, an area of chemistry that I found particularly interesting. I knew that the debut of the journal would be difficult, and the first issue that appeared in print during the autumn of 1973 was indeed modest. I believed, however, that in due time and with the help of eminent scientists, such as Professors Keiichiro Fukumoto, its present Editor, and Masatomo Hamana who edits the section on total synthesis, that the world scientific community would both accept Heterocycles as a valuable source of scientific information and use it to publish novel accounts of work in its field of focus. Now, 30 years later, a highly polished Heterocycles with a distinguished International Advisory Board that covers 14 countries has achieved this priceless goal.
From the point of view of the history of science, transmission is as essential as discovery (George Sarton)

Arnold Brossi
Bethesda, July 2003
School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 and Scientist Emeritus, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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PREFACE
Heterocycles, 2003, 61, 4

It is notable that 30 years have passed since Heterocycles was first published in 1973. As I have known the journal since in cradle, it is my great pleasure to see it grown into such a nice young man. The success of this journal owes greatly to the inexhaustible vitality and to the unequaled idea of late Tetsuji Kametani, the initiator. To our surprise, it appeared in black cover, which was very chic, and he occasionally published special issues in between regular periodicals. All such challenging spirit and enthusiasm of the original editor were fully relayed to the present editor, Keiichiro Fukumoto who was involved in the planning also from the very beginning. Also, its binding in chic black and is thus very eye-catching.

Heterocycles has given full play to spreading and supporting new heterocyclic chemistry. Compounds introduced by Heterocycles benefited us and brought advancement in all related fields. Today, heterocyclic chemistry extended its domain to every discipline of organic chemistry. Recent rapid growth particularly of new reaction chemistry is brought by the utilization of characteristic properties of various hetero atoms that are involved in heterocycles.

30 years' history of this publication is just the beginning of unceasing stimulation. Its influential feature as a journal that gives hints and inspiration to the expanding scientific demands shall continue to encourage our comrades.

I sincerely wish ever further maturity and advancement of the journal.

Teruaki Mukaiyama
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Editor's Note
Heterocycles, 2003, 61, 5

Thirty years have passed since we first published Heterocycles. It seems like only yesterday. This special issue is to commemorate the journal's great achievements.
It was thirty years ago that Professor Tetsuji Kametani, the founder of Heterocycles, told me his plan to publish an international science journal. At that time, how could I imagine that I would be writing this special note thirty years later?
We have distinguished our journal from others with these three features 1) taking advantage of a camera-ready printing technology which enables us to speed up the process of publishing 2) publishing the list of natural products, and 3) having published special issues on various occasions. As a result, Heterocycles has been well received by scientists all over the world. We are very proud that many of our subscribers are the most prestigious universities and research laboratories throughout the world. When we first published the journal, it consisted of two sections: "Communication" and "Review" Later with suggestions by Dr. R. N. Castle1 the "Paper" section was added, followed by the "Note" section. Currently, the journal is consisted of these four sections as well as the Natural Products.
Looking back over the last five years, we have much to celebrate. In 1999, the Kametani Award2 was established in commemoration of the journal's 25th anniversary. Its first award was given to Professor Alan R. Katritzky.3 Also in 1999, we published the 50th issue. At the end of this year, we are expecting to reach a total of more than 10,000 papers published in our regular issues over our thirty year history. As well as the papers in our Review section and special issues, there would be even more.
The website for the journal was established in 2001. We have been distributing the latest papers to our readers ever since. We are also in the final process of digitizing all the papers we published in the last thirty years by the end of 2003, and digital data of the Natural Products will be fully restored in 2004. We hope our digitized information will help the world's scientists. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our readers, authors, referees and advisory board members. Without their cooperation, we could not have achieved this great milestone, our 30th anniversary issue.

Keiichiro Fukumoto
Editor in Chief
1. Dr. R. N. Castle : Former Professor of Brigham Young University, he is founder of the Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry.
2. Kametani Award was founded in 1999 by the Nomination Committee for Outstanding Research in Heterocyclic Chemistry and Contributions to the Heterocycles. It is intended to honor the Memory of the Founder of Heterocycles.
3. Professor Alan R. Katritzky : Center for Heterocyclic Compounds, Department of Chemistry, University of Florida.
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FIFTIETH VOLUME OF HETEROCYCLES: PREFACE
Heterocycles, 1999, 50, 1

Our Journal has reached another milestone with its Fiftieth Volume. As we all know, in addition to the regular yearly volumes, issued monthly, Heterocycles initiated in 1976 a series of special volumes to mark important anniversaries and to pay appropriate tributes to chemists who had made significant contributions to the subject.

We need as heterocyclic chemists, to hold our heads high. Society cannot operate efficiently without us. All the impressive advances of biological chemistry, genetic manipulation, enzymatic transformation, antibody recognition, depend on the basic principles of Heterocyclic chemistry. It is scandalous that in many great universities, chemists can graduate without more than the skimpiest knowledge of heterocyclic chemistry. It is commonplace to hear that on recruitment of organic chemists into pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies, a first necessity for the new recruit, is to familiarize him/herself, with some basic heterocyclic chemistry concepts.

Heterocycles are of vital importance in the race to improve our understanding of the basic chemistry which underlies nearly all of the important life-processes and a large proportion of transformations leading to and creating the increasingly sophisticated products, which enhance our society today and hopefully will long continue to do so.
On behalf of the readers of Heterocycles, I would like to dedicate this fiftieth celebration volume to all of those who have enabled and who continue to enable the publication of our journal. We salute our authors, noting their international character from all of the continents and so many countries, who have taken advantage of the excellent facilities and efficient operation of our journal. We thank our Senior Editorial Advisors and the whole Editorial Board for their support. We are grateful for the foresight of our founders and especially for the vision Tetsuji Kametani who, back in the early 1970's, foresaw the need for Heterocycles. Above all we dedicate the Fiftieth Volume of Heterocycles to our faithful staff who have worked so hard and with such loyalty under the exemplary leadership of our editor Keiichiro Fukumoto.

It is with great pleasure that I commend to you our readers this Fiftieth Volume in the confident expectation that we will all find much to inspire us within its pages.

Alan R. Katritzky
Gainesville, Florida, USA
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PREFACE
Heterocycles, 1999, 50, 3

Before joining Columbia University in 1969, I spent six fruitful years at Tohoku University, Sendai, and shared many activities, including frequent drinks at bars with friends, one of the closest being Tetsuji Kametani (1917-1988). His activities were legendary, and it was not unusual to see two secretaries both typing papers after 5 pm on Saturday afternoons in those pre-computer years, containing in his 1201 papers.

On this wonderful occasion of the publication of HETEROCYCLES 50, I am strongly impressed with the insight of TK who launched this new journal in the early 1970's. I remember the dinner with his family in a Japanese restaurant in New York where he showed me and my wife the prototype of the journal's current black and white cover designed by his architect son Koichi. Despite the ever-increasing number of new journals, HETEROCYCLES has now developed into a major journal which is fulfilling a seminal role in synthetic organic and natural products chemistry, especially in heterocycles. Besides the reviews and research articles published in the Journal, its unique aspects are the special memorial / birthday volumes and the compiled tables listing the structures and bioactivities of all natural products published in various journal.

Being a natural products and bioorganic chemist, I sometimes wonder what heterocyclic chemistry means. Heterocycles comprise lactones, lactams, alkaloids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids, porphyrins, essential amino acids, antibiotics, etc.; furthermore, the active site of many receptors contain heteroaromatic amino acids as their key moieties. There is no doubt that heterocycles play a central role in most bioactive molecules and in their manifestation of bioactivity. The introduction of combinatorial synthetic and biosynthetic protocols, particularly in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industry, is bound to give rise to a further explosive increase in the number of biologically and theoretically exciting heterocyclic molecules.

It is about time that the organization of organic textbooks be changed so that chapters dealing with heterocyclic chemistry are not placed at the end, almost as an addendum. The omnipresent and extremely heterogenous heterocycles are bound to increase their significance in all branches of chemistry and biochemistry as well as in our lives.

We extend our gratitude to Professor Keiichiro Fukumoto, the successor of TK, and the editorial staff who continue to spread the influence of the journal as well as heterocyclic chemistry, so that we now celebrate HETEROCYCLES 50, the brain-child of Tetsuji Kametani's inspiration.

Koji Nakanishi
Centennial Professor of Chemistry
Columbia University, U. S. A.
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PREFACE for the Special 50th Volume of Heterocycles
Heterocycles, 1999, 50, 5

From today's perspective, it is almost incomprehensible that there was a time, not too many decades ago, when discussions (usually very brief ones) of heterocyclic chemistry were relegated to the back pages of textbooks, and the area was generally considered to be an over-specialized, narrow, relatively unchallenging branch of organic chemistry.
Today, papers dealing with one or another aspect of heterocyclic chemistry constitute some 75-80% of all publications in organic chemistry. Heterocycles make up a significant percentage of all known medicinal and agricultural agents, and are widely distributed in nature as vitamins, hormones, constituents of DNA and RNA, essential amino acids, carbohydrates, alkaloids and antibiotics. Numbers of known heterocyclic compounds, with heteroatoms well beyond N, S, and O, are exploding exponentially with the advent of combinatorial chemistry. Heterocycles are demonstrating extraordinary versatility and utility in the field of organic synthesis as chiral auxiliaries, latent functionalities, protecting groups, chelating agents and synthetic scaffolds. Heterocycles, indeed, are an integral part of the very fabric of organic and biological chemistry.

The pioneering periodical HETEROCYCLES is playing a major role in contemporary chemical literature as a highly respected vehicle for publication of original papers, communications and reviews in the field of heterocyclic chemistry. A journal devoted to what might appear to be a single discipline within in the field of chemistry has both potential advantages as well as drawbacks. HETEROCYCLES possesses the former, and avoids the latter, through its unremitting emphasis on quality, significance and breadth.
The field of heterocyclic chemistry, impinging as it does on almost every facet of organic and medicinal chemistry - structure, mechanism, synthesis, properties (both chemical and biological), and utility - was in real need of a first-rate journal that provided chemists with access to and perspectives on the best of current research in this extremely broad field.
This is the 50th volume of this flagship periodical, and chemists the world over can be grateful for the contributions it has and we trust will continue to make to chemical progress.

Edward C. Taylor
A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Organic Chemistry Emeritus
Princeton University, U. S. A.
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PREFACE : IS HETEROCYCLIC CHEMISTRY BORING?
Heterocycles, 1999, 50, 7

A note with this provoking title was published by the author in 1966.1 Although the question was answered in the negative. It is amusing to compare status and perspectives of heterocyclic chemistry formerly and now.

Heterocycles are inextricably woven into the processes of organic life. Beyond nucleic acids and carbohydrates, we may quote macrocyclic dyes, alkaloids, vitamins, and antibiotics as examples. Connected with the natural occurrence is the vital interest of the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries in heterocyclic chemistry. Synthetic chemistry showed that carbocycles tolerate many other elements in variable numbers as ring members. Should pentazoles (RN5) or the P4 tetrahedron still be regarded as heterocycles with all ring members coming from the same element? The substitution of carbon atoms in condensed polycyclic compounds by heterofunctions multiplies the numbers of conceivable structures.
Statistical analysis recalls the notion that the number of organic compounds is infinite; a majority is heterocyclic.

The borders of the countries are neatly defined on an atlas. This is not so in the arrangement of chemical sciences into disciplines; overlap is thwarting clear divisions. Heterocyclic chemistry, in fact, pervades the plurality of the other chemical disciplines. The objection that the near omnipresence of heterocycles renders their separate treatment superfluous, is easily refuted: the modification and alteration of chemical and physical properties of molecules by heteroatoms argue for a special discipline.

The sheer volume suggests a reshaping of the title question: Is heterocyclic chemistry frightening? The lack of consistency in the many-faceted discipline was deplored by the author in 1966.1 Today, heterocyclic synthesis is no longer a maze. The number of general synthetic principles which allow the construction of more than one heterocyclic system, is increasing. Pericyclic reactions are especially tolerant with respect to kind and number of heteroatoms. In modern lecture courses and textbooks, retrosynthetic principles are valuable and provide an abundance of test questions.

Heterocyclic chemistry is no longer the chaotic tropical garden it used to be 50 years ago. Spectroscopic studies, mechanistic investigations, and theoretical calculations led to a deeper understanding of static and dynamic aspects of heterocycles.

Drug research in pharmaceutical industry deals to a large extent with heterocycles. Innumerable structural variants have to be synthesized in the course of optimization, before a medicine is released. Modern combinatorial chemistry enables an effortless multiplication of the number of substances for highly automated bio-tests.

In the past, the "Synthesis of compounds of potential biological interest" often occurred in grant applications. Only a new synthetic principle or a novel pharmacological activity as guiding motif can justify such projects in university research. Just making new compounds for biological testing without a specific goal is not an intellectual challenge; it has even discredited heterocyclic chemistry to a certain extent.

Since our note of 1966, the International Society of Heterocyclic Chemistry was founded and represents a well-established discipline. Biannual International Congresses strengthen the feeling of solidarity among heterocyclic chemists; the first Congress was held In Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1967 and the sixteenth in Bozeman, Montana, in 1997. Scientists of outstanding merit are honored by the International Award of Heterocyclic Chemistry.

Two international journals serve heterocyclic chemistry in its full breadth, in addition to several more specialized periodicals. The Journal of Heterocyclic Chemistry was founded by Raymond N. Castle in 1964, and Tetsuji Kametani initiated Heterocycles in 1973. Furthermore, the Advances of Heterocyclic Chemistry were set up by Alan R. Katritzky in 1962, and Vol, 70 (1998) was still edited by the same active scientist.

After the recent 25th anniversary, Heterocycles now commemorates its 50th Volume. This is ample reason to celebrate: the Editor and his staff may be congratulated to a story of success. The new journal was rapidly accepted and captured an essential position in the heterocyclic literature. Heterocycles offers communications full papers, and reviews; the columns on new natural products and total syntheses are useful, too. The high scientific reputation of the Editors - Tetsuji Kametani succeeded by Keiichiro Fukumoto - and careful reviewing have guaranteed a high standard of the journal.

A periodical based on camera-ready manuscripts should publish the contributions in record time. This is the case. However, an even influx of manuscripts remains a dream of the editorial staff; occasional "bumper crops" generate waiting times. Printed on quality paper, the make-up of Heterocycles is very attractive. A greater uniformity of the articles might be achieved by more detailed general instructions.

Not much imagination is required to predict a good future for Heterocycles. May success accompany the journal into the next millennium!

Rolf Huisgen
University of München, Germany

R. Huisgen, Nachrichten aus Chemie und Technik (Veriag Chemie, Weinhein),487 (1966).
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Editor's Remark
Heterocycles, 1999, 50, 9

We are very glad to present Volume 50 as a special issue. The first volume was edited by the late Professor Tetsuji Kametani, Founder of our Journal, and was published in 1973. During the past 26 years, our Journal has contributed much to the development of heterocyclic chemistry as well as natural product chemistry throughout the world. This is due to publish many novel and active papers and also to be contributed by Honorary Editorial Associates and Honorary Advisors to Editorial Board, to whom the editor deeply acknowledges. Moreover, the editor extends special thanks to the referees who have contributed so much to the development of our Journal.

Our Journal prints COMMUNICATIONS, PAPERS, NOTES, and REVIEWS which are accepted to be published by the referees. NEW HETEROCYCLIC NATURAL PRODUCTS and TOTAL SYNTHESIS OF HETEROCYCLIC NATURAL PRODUCTS are listed at the end of each issue. The editor continues to strive for improving the quality of the papers published in our Journal in order to contribute to a development of heterocyclic, natural, and medicinal chemistry. On this occasion the editor acknowledges heartfelt cooperation by the referees, Honorary Editorial Associates, and Honorary Advisors to the Editorial Board. The editor anticipates a contribution of splendid manuscripts on a wide range of the chemistry of heterocyclic compounds.

Finally, the editor extends special thanks to Mr. Koichi Kametani, son of the Founder of our Journal, for his devoted collaboration to our Journal.

Keiichiro Fukumoto
The Editor of HETEROCYCLES
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HETEROCYCLES, 25TH ANNIVERSARY: PREFACE
Heterocycles, 1997, 45, 2299

A twenty fifth anniversary is a time to pause and take stock of the situation: how has our journal "Heterocycles" developed? Is it satisfying a need? How is it considered by its authors and readers? What challenges lie ahead and are appropriate steps being taken to meet them? Thankfully, for "Heterocycles" the answers to all these questions are most reassuring. Since its foundation by our respected and admired inaugural editor Tetsuji Kametani, "Heterocycles" has prospered first under his direction and later under the capable guidance of his worthy successor Keiichiro Fukumoto, and is now recognized worldwide as a quite indispensable part of the heterocyclic literature for its original papers, communications and reviews.

We, the readers of the "Heterocycles", all know the importance of heterocyclic compounds: that class which forms by far the largest of the classical divisions of chemistry. Life is distinctly heterocyclic and heterocyclic chemistry dominates biochemical processes, moreover it provides the majority of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, dyestuffs, agents for all form of reprography, as well as additives of many kinds. It is a welcome sign of our progress that all transformations of
materials are increasingly described and rationalized in molecular terms: a proper understanding of heterocyclic chemistry is fundamental to such rationalization of transformations and for their efficient development and optimization.

"Heterocycles" provides an essential medium for the publication of original work and of reviews with efficient and fair refereeing and rapid turn around. Long may it continue to serve our subject as well as science and humankind throughout the world - we look forward to the next twenty five years of "Heterocycles" with pleasure and confidence!

Alan R. Katritzky
Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Editor's Note
Heterocycles, 1997, 45, 2301

HETEROCYCLES, an International Journal for Reviews and Communications in Heterocyclic Chemistry, was founded by Professor Tetsuji Kametani twenty-five years ago and has arrived at its 45th Volume. We are proud to publish this 25th Anniversary commemorative issue for this special occasion.

As far as both Authors and Editorial Staffs are concerned, our Journal has developed a perfect international character. A high scientific level has been strictly reviewed and maintained by active and qualified heterocyclic or natural product chemists.
HETEROCYCLES, know as " the black journal", now decorates the library bookshelf of Universities and research laboratories throughout the world.

During the past 25 years, the editor believes that our Journal has provided much information about fresh, exciting, and pioneering research in Heterocyclic chemistry to a wide range of heterocyclic chemists, and contributed to a progress of science on a global scale. We will continue constantly to improve the quality of our Journal in order to contribute a more precious medium for the spread of valuable and important studies to heterocyclic chemists throughout the world.

As part of this celebration, we are planning to give the best paper of the year a special award known as the "Kametani's Award". This award will be given in 1998, and the paper will be chosen by selected referees and the Editorial Board.

On this occasion the editor wishes to express his deep esteem and appreciation to the Authors, Referees, Honorary Editorial Associates and Honorary Advisors to the Editorial Board, who have contributed much to the development of our Journal since 1973.

Special thanks are due also to Mr. Koichi Kametani, son of the founder of our Journal, for his generous and precious collaboration to our Journal.

Keiichiro Fukumoto
Editor
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PREFACE
Heterocycles, 1973, i

It is not an exaggeration to say that the foundations of organic chemistry in Japan were laid by the three scientists Professor Riko Majima, Professor Umetaro Suzuki, and Professor Nagayoshi Nagai. From 1875, Professor Nagai studied under Prof. A. W. Hofmann, the pioneer of amine chemistry , and he was Hofmann's assistant from 1879-1883. He is known for his discovery and elucidation of the alkaloid ephedrine from the plant Ma Huang (Ephedm sinica). He also began work on the alkaloid matrine from Sophora flavescens. This work was later taken over by his pupil Prof. Heizaburo Kondo, who also developed a wide area of alkaloid chemistry. Kondo's most predominant work was study of alkaloids of the biscoclaurine series.

Knowledge of heterocyclic chemistry is an essential basis for the study of alkaloids, and when I look back and compare our present knowledge with that at the time when as an assistant of Professor Kondo I was working on the structure of matrine, groping around in the dark to discover its parent ring structure, I am acutely aware of how incomplete and disorganized our knowledge was then.

It was this situation which, on my succeeding Professor Kondo and undertaking independent research, prompted me to start work on investigation of the chemical properties of heterocyclic systems, relying on the then newly developed electronic theory of organic compounds. This work further developed into the chemistry of aromatic amine N-oxides. The synthetic conversion of quinine series to the corynantheine series of alkaloid i s only a by-product of the chemical study on aromatic amine N-oxides.

These works represent a part of the history of the progress of heterocyclic chemistry in Japan; but the most gratifying thing is the recent rapid increase in the number of people concerned with heterocyclic chemical research in this country, and the prominant position their results hold in the world of chemistry.

Now, through the efforts of Dr. Tetsuji Kametani, Professor of Pharmaceutical Faculty of Tohoku University, a man already known for his energetic contribution in the field of heterocyclic chemistry, the publication in Japan of the international journal 'Heterocycles' has come about. Though, as is well known, various excellent journals concerned with organic chemistry are already being published in Japan, the birth of the first international journal of this type to be published in this country is certainly something of which we are proud. I wish the journal every success in the future.

Eiji Ochiai
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PREFACE
Heterocycles, 1973, iii

There are already many Journals for the publication of Organic Chemistry and it is doubtful if new national Journals can be justified. The last two decades have, however, seen the birth and growth to secure maturity of a number of International Journals. It is clear that such a means of publication is desired by the international Community of scientists. At present no international Journal for Organic Chemistry is published in Japan and this new publication 'Heterocycles' will fill a gap.

'Heterocycles' will be a medium for the publication of high- class reviews and for short accounts of original research. It will not publish full papers as do most of its predecessors.
It would seem that it will cater well for the current evolution of publishing practice in Organic Chemistry away from the presentation of full papers. In addition 'Heterocycles' will publish short news items likely to be of interest to its readers.

Heterocyclic chemistry is the largest branch of Organic Chemistry in terms of the numbers of new compounds synthesised.
It is a part of Chemistry of special interest to Medicinal Chemists. The potential number of readers for this new Journal is therefore very large and it will no doubt grow to become a major publication in the field.

I wish the new Journal every success in the hands of its able and energetic Editor, Professor T Kametani.

Derek Barton
25th June 1973
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