An epoxide is a cyclic ether with only three ring atoms. This ring approximately is an equilateral triangle, i.e. its bond angles are about 60°, which makes it highly strained. The strained ring makes epoxides more reactive than other ethers, especially towards nucleophiles. Simple epoxides are named from the parent compound etylene oxide or oxirane, such as in chloromethyloxirane. As a functional group epoxides obtain the epoxy prefix such as in the compound 1,2-epoxycycloheptane which can also be called cycloheptene epoxide.

Related Topics:
Ether - Equilateral triangle - Strained - Nucleophile - Oxirane - Functional group - Prefix

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A polymer made of epoxide units is called a polyepoxide or an epoxy. Epoxy resins are used as adhesives and structural materials. Example: epoxyethane

Related Topics:
Polymer - Epoxy - Adhesive - Epoxyethane

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