propiolactone
Propiolactone is a three-membered cyclic ester, specifically a beta-lactone. It is a colorless liquid with a relatively low boiling point and a somewhat sweet odor. Chemically, propiolactone is a reactive compound due to the strain within its three-membered ring. This strain makes the ester bond susceptible to nucleophilic attack, leading to ring opening. It can undergo reactions with water, alcohols, amines, and other nucleophiles.
Propiolactone has been investigated for various applications, though its use is limited due to safety concerns.
However, propiolactone is classified as a probable human carcinogen and is known to be mutagenic and toxic.