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Ethylene Oxide (Strained ether)

By moleculeoftheday on March 20, 2007.

Ethylene oxide is the simplest possible epoxide, or three-membered cyclic ether:

i-f9443f0b9d5100d8420e11c8de90536c-ethylene-oxide.gif

It is a superior disinfectant, but it's a gas, and quite toxic, so you'll probably never use it. Even in biology labs, an autoclave is used to disinfect (essentially a pressure cooker - water is heated 12C/21.6F degrees above its normal boiling point). EtO is ubiquitous in disinfecting medical supplies - especially things like bandages and gauses, where a wet autoclave is problematic. Some beasties can happily survive (and reproduce) at autoclave temperatures.

It also has a role in the production of ethylene glycol (used in antifreeze, among other things). Ethylene oxide functional groups ("epoxides") are also found in some molecules, such as some members of the juvenile hormone class.

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Topologically/Geometrically Interesting

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It also can be polymerized to make poly(ethylene oxide)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEO or PEG), which, due to its water solubility and biocompatibility, is of great interest in a range of research areas. As a result, for better or worse, the verb "to PEGylate" has come into somewhat common usage. (I blame the biologists)