An epoxide is a cyclic ether consisting of a three-membered ring with one oxygen and two carbon atoms. It is characterized by its high reactivity due to the strain of the three-membered ring.
Alkenes can be transformed into epoxides through a reaction with a peroxy acid, such as m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (mCPBA), in a process known as epoxidation. The oxygen from the peroxyacid is inserted into the carbon-carbon double bond of the alkene, resulting in the formation of the epoxide.