oxetane

chemical compound

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Last updated

July 2, 2026

Quick Summary

Oxetane is a four-membered heterocyclic compound containing one oxygen atom. Like other three- and four-membered rings, oxetanes are geometrically strained and readily opened, making them reactive intermediates.1

Oxetanes are synthesized through nucleophilic displacement reactions. While their ring-opening reactions are less facile than those of three-membered rings, they are still prone to breaking.1

Synthetic analogs of oxetanes are being investigated for various medicinal applications, including as antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral agents.1

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heterocyclic compound
Four-membered rings
Azetidine, oxetane, and thietane—four-membered rings containing, respectively, one nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur atom—are prepared by nucleophilic displacement reactions similar to those used to prepare the corresponding three-membered rings.
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Azetidine, oxetane, and thietane—four-membered rings containing, respectively, one nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur atom—are prepared by nucleophilic displacement reactions similar to those used to prepare the corresponding three-membered rings.
Read More