Nomenclature of epoxides

Cyclic ethers are compounds that contain an oxygen atom incorporated in a ring. Special parent names are used to indicate the ring size. 

For our current discussion, we will focus on oxiranes, cychc ethers containing a three-membered ring system. This ring system is more reactive than other ethers because it has significant ring strain. Substituted oxiranes, which are also called epoxides, can have up to four R groups. The simplest epoxide (no R groups) is often called by its common name, ethylene oxide. 

Epoxides, although strained, are commonly found in nature. The following are two examples. 

There are two methods for naming epoxides. In the first method, the oxygen atom is considered to be a substituent on the parent chain, and the exact location of the epoxide moiety is identified with two numbers followed by the term epoxy.  

In the second method, the parent is considered to be the epoxide (parent = oxttane), and any groups connected to the epoxide are listed as substituents. 

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Introduction to Ethers Nomenclature of Ethers Structure and Properties of Ethers Crown Ethers Preparation of Ethers Reactions of Ethers Nomenclature of Epoxides Preparation of Epoxides Enantioselective Epoxidation Ring-Opening Reactions of Epoxides Thiols and Sulfides... 

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