Illustrated Glossary of Organic Chemistry
β
-
Lactam
(
beta
-
lactam
):
An
amide
contained within a four-membered ring, or a
molecule
which contains this
moiety
. The
antibiotic
activity of
penicillins
and
cephalosporins
are due
β
-
lactam
ring strain
.
The
β
-
lactam
moiety
(in red) within the generic
penicillin
structure
.
Related terms:
Lactam
,
enzyme
,
inhibitor
,
suicide inhibitor
,
acylation
,
nucleophilic carbonyl substitution
,
nucleophilic acyl substitution
,
transamidation
Wikipedia entry
Return to glossary index