lactone

[ lak-tohn ]

noun

, Chemistry.

1. any of a group of internal esters derived from hydroxy acids.

lactone

/ ˈlæktəʊn; lækˈtɒnɪk /

noun

1. any of a class of organic compounds formed from hydroxy acids and containing the group -C(CO)OC-, where the carbon atoms are part of a ring

lactone

/ lăk′tōn′ /

1. Any of various organic esters derived from organic acids by removal of water. Lactones are formed when the carboxyl (COOH) group of the acid reacts with a hydroxyl (OH) group in the same acid, releasing water and causing the carbon atom to join to the hydroxyl's remaining oxygen atom, forming a ring. Vitamin C, the antibiotic erythromycin, and many commercially important substances are lactones.

Derived Forms

• lactonic, adjective

Other Words From

• lac·ton·ic [lak-, ton, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of lactone¹

First recorded in 1840–50; lact- + -one

Example Sentences

As the chemists explored the breadth of their new dehydrogenation method using different specific starting compounds, they observed trace amounts of a type of molecule called a lactone, indicating that an oxygenation reaction had occurred.

From Science Daily

Yu and his group are currently developing a similar approach for making and modifying lactone- and amide-related compounds called lactams, which include some antibiotics.

From Science Daily

Acyl-homoserine lactone acylase from Ralstonia strain XJ12B represents a novel and potent class of quorum-quenching enzymes.

From Nature

In dogs experimentally infected with two different heartworm isolates taken from suspected lack-of-efficacy cases from the Delta region, the parasites survived repeated treatment with a macrocyclic lactone.

From Nature

"American oak has lactone levels certainly not found in French oak," Boswell says.

From Scientific American