Compounds in which an oxygen atom is directly attached to two adjacent or non-adjacent carbon atoms of a carbon chain or ring system; thus cyclic
ethers. The term
epoxides represents a subclass of epoxy compounds containing a saturated three-membered cyclic ether; thus oxirane derivatives, e.g. 1,2-epoxypropane, or 2-methyloxirane (an epoxide); 9,10-epoxy-9,10-dihydroanthracene (an epoxy compound).
Source:
PAC, 1995, 67, 1307
(Glossary of class names of organic compounds and reactivity intermediates based on structure (IUPAC Recommendations 1995))
on page 1334
