What is "amidine"

n. (context chemistry English) any of several classes of organic compound, formally derived from oxoacids, by replacement of the hydroxy group with an amino group, and the oxo group with =NR

Amidines are a class of oxoacid derivatives.

The oxoacid from which an amidine is derived must be of the form RE(=O)OH, where R is a substituent. The −OH group is replaced by an −NH group and the =O group is replaced by = N R, giving amidines the general structure RE(=NR)NR.