Organic Chemistry: What is a Lactam?
Most have never heard of a lactam. What is it? How can it be produced? Compounds are chemicals formed by combining two or more different atoms, the basic building blocks of matter. Organic compounds contain carbon, frequently bonded to itself, whether in chains, rings, or some other geometric structure. There are so many organic compounds, they must be categorized according to "functional groups." Functional groups are specialized structures within a compound that may contain a special atom, such as nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorous, etc. One kind of compound categorized by functional group is an amide. An amide results when an organic acid group reacts with a nitrogen-containing amine group and loses water. A lactam is a special kind of amide. It may serve as an intermediate in forming heterocyclic rings. Inorganic…