lactols

  1. Cyclic hemiacetals formed by intramolecular addition of a hydroxy group to an aldehydic or ketonic carbonyl group. They are thus 1-oxacy-cycloalkan-2-ols or unsaturated analogues, e.g.
    L03438
  2. [obsolete] This term has also been used for hydroxy lactones, but such use is not recommended.
    Source:
    PAC, 1995, 67, 1307 (Glossary of class names of organic compounds and reactivity intermediates based on structure (IUPAC Recommendations 1995)) on page 1347