A lactone is a cyclic ester in chemistry. It is the condensation product of an alcohol group and a carboxylic acid group in the same molecule. Prefixes may indicate the ring size: beta-lactone (4-membered), gamma-lactone (5-membered), delta-lactone (6-membered ring).

Examples

gamma-Butyrolactone (GBL):

D-Glucono-delta-lactone (E575):

See also

• Lactam, a cyclic amide.

Lactones | Carboxylate esters

Lactone | Lactone | לקטון | ラクトン | Lakton