lactone
|lac-tone|
🇺🇸
/ˈlæk.toʊn/
🇬🇧
/ˈlæk.təʊn/
cyclic ester
Etymology
'lactone' originates from New Latin/chemical usage, formed from the element 'lact-' (from Latin 'lac, lactis' meaning 'milk') combined with the chemical suffix '-one'.
'lactone' entered 19th-century chemical literature (via French and German sources) as a name for cyclic esters related to lactic acid and was adopted into English chemical nomenclature.
Initially it was used for compounds derived specifically from lactic acid, but over time it expanded to denote the broader class of cyclic esters called lactones.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a cyclic ester formed by intramolecular condensation (esterification) of a hydroxyl and a carboxyl group in the same molecule; commonly produced from hydroxy acids (e.g., γ-lactone, δ-lactone).
Many fruit aromas are produced by γ-lactones, a type of lactone responsible for peach and coconut notes.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a compound containing the lactone functional group; lactones commonly occur in natural products and contribute to characteristic flavors, fragrances, and biological activity.
Coumarin and many other natural products contain a lactone ring that affects their scent and reactivity.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/08/26 02:53