Lactam: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Chemical compound as a cyclicCyclic amide}}

[[Image:Lactams General Formulae V.1.png|thumb|right|450px|From left to right, the above are general structures of a [[β-lactam]], a [[γ-lactam]], a [[δ-lactam]], and an [[ε-lactam]]. TheTheir specificcommon structuresnames are β-propiolactam, γ-butyrolactam, δ-valerolactam, and ε-caprolactam.]]

A '''lactam''' is a [[Cyclic compound|cyclic]] [[amide]], formally derived from an [[amino]] [[alkanoic acid]] through [[cyclization]] reactions. The term is a [[portmanteau]] of the words ''[[lactone]]'' + ''[[amide]]''.

[[Greek_alphabet#Letters|Greek prefixesprefix]]es in alphabetical order indicate ring size:.

This ring-size nomenclature stems from the fact that a [[hydrolysis|hydrolyzed]] of an α-Lactamlactam leads togives an α-[[amino acid]] and that of a β-Lactam togives a β-amino acid, ''etc''and so on.

General synthetic methods existare used for the [[organic synthesis]] of lactams.

Lactams form from [[cyclic ketones]] and [[hydrazoic acid]] in the [[Schmidt reaction]]. Cyclohexanone with hydrazoic acid, forms [[Caprolactam|ε - Caprolactum]], which upon treatment with excess acid forms [[Pentylenetetrazol|Cardiazole]], a heart stimulant.

A '''lactim''' is a cyclic [[Imidic acid|carboximidicimidic acid]] compound characterized by an endocyclic carbon-nitrogen [[double bond]]. They are formed when lactams undergo [[tautomer]]ization.

*{{CommonscatinlineCommons category-inline|Lactams}}