ring-opening
Cycle becomes chain
Ring-opening describes a chemical reaction in which a cyclic molecule's ring structure breaks apart, converting it to a chain or incorporating it into a larger structure.
The term appears frequently in polymer chemistry, where ring-opening polymerization links small cyclic molecules into long chains: ring-opening polymerization of lactide produces biodegradable plastics.
Chain-forming molecule
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- chainLinked segments forming length
- initiatorOne who starts something
- catalystAgent enabling change
cyclic · propagation · epoxide · lactone · cationic · anionic · living · biodegradable
Three-membered cyclic ether
- nucleophileElectron-pair donating species
- hydrolysisWater-induced bond cleavage
- stereochemistryStudy of molecular shape
- SN2Concerted nucleophilic displacement
cleavage · strain · attack · electrophile · thiol · anhydride · glycol
Enzyme cleaving via water
- lipaseFat-dissolving enzyme
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
- lactoneCyclic ester from self-reaction
degradation · metabolism · antibiotic · penicillin · cephalosporin · biotransformation · selectivity · kinetic
Unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon
- catalystAgent enabling change
- rutheniumRare metallic element, number forty-four
- tungstenElement seventy-four
- molybdenumElement forty-two
monomer
Chain-forming molecule
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- chainLinked segments forming length
- initiatorOne who starts something
catalyst · cyclic · propagation · epoxide · lactone · cationic · anionic · living · biodegradable · nylon
epoxide
Three-membered cyclic ether
- nucleophileElectron-pair donating species
- hydrolysisWater-induced bond cleavage
- stereochemistryStudy of molecular shape
SN2 · cleavage · strain · attack · electrophile · thiol · anhydride · glycol
hydrolase
Enzyme cleaving via water
- lipaseFat-dissolving enzyme
- substrateUnderlying supporting material
- enzymeProtein that hastens reactions
lactone · degradation · metabolism · antibiotic · penicillin · cephalosporin · biotransformation · selectivity · kinetic · resolution
olefin
Unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon
- catalystAgent enabling change
- rutheniumRare metallic element, number forty-four
- tungstenElement seventy-four
molybdenum · strained · elastomer · thermoset · crosslinking