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Lactone vs Lactam - What's the difference?

lactone | lactam |

In organic chemistry terms the difference between lactone and lactam

is that lactone is a cyclic intramolecular ester derived from a hydroxy acid while lactam is any of a class of cyclic amides, that are the nitrogen analogs of lactones, formed by heating amino acids; the tautomeric enol forms are known as lactims.

lactone

English

(wikipedia lactone)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (organic chemistry) A cyclic intramolecular ester derived from a hydroxy acid.

    • Usage notes

    * Greek prefixes indicate the ring size e.g. ?- 3-membered, ?- 4-membered

    lactam

    English

    (wikipedia lactam)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (organic chemistry) Any of a class of cyclic amides, that are the nitrogen analogs of lactones, formed by heating amino acids; the tautomeric enol forms are known as lactims.

    • Usage notes

    Greek prefixes indicate the ring size e.g. ?- 3-membered, ?- 4-membered.

    See also

    *alpha-lactam *beta-lactam