Canadian Medical Guide > Chemicals and Drugs > Organic Chemicals > Ethers > Ethers, Cyclic Terms and Definitions

Ethers, Cyclic

	Ciguatoxins - Polycyclic ethers produced by Gambierdiscus (DINOFLAGELLATES) from gambiertoxins, which are ingested by fish which in turn may be ingested by humans who are susceptible to the CIGUATERA POISONING.
	Crown Ethers - Macrocyclic polyethers with the repeating unit of (-CH2-CH2-O)n where n is greater than 2 and some oxygens may be replaced by nitrogen, sulfur or phosphorus. These compounds are useful for coordinating CATIONS. The nomenclature uses a prefix to indicate the size of the ring and a suffix for the number of heteroatoms.
	Epoxy Compounds
	Okadaic Acid - A specific inhibitor of phosphoserine/threonine protein phosphatase 1 and 2a. It is also a potent tumor promoter. (Thromb Res 1992;67(4):345-54 & Cancer Res 1993;53(2):239-41)
	Oxepins - Compounds based on a 7-membered heterocyclic ring including an oxygen. They can be considered a medium ring ether. A natural source is the MONTANOA plant genus. Some dibenzo-dioxepins, called depsidones, are found in GARCINIA plants.
	Oxocins - Compounds based on an 8-membered heterocyclic ring including an oxygen. They can be considered medium ring ethers.

Ethers, Cyclic Medical Definitions and Terms