Provide an example of a lactam and a lactone.

A lactam is a cyclic amide, while a lactone is a cyclic ester.

Lactams and lactones are both cyclic compounds that contain a carbonyl group. Lactams are cyclic amides, which means they have a nitrogen atom in the ring that is also part of the carbonyl group. They are named based on the number of carbons in the ring, with the most common being five- and six-membered rings called pyrrolidinone and piperidinone, respectively. Lactams are important building blocks in organic synthesis and are found in many natural products, such as penicillin.

Lactones, on the other hand, are cyclic esters, which means they have an oxygen atom in the ring that is part of the carbonyl group. They are also named based on the number of carbons in the ring, with the most common being five- and six-membered rings called γ- and δ-lactones, respectively. Lactones are found in many natural products, such as steroids and macrolides, and are also used in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and fragrances.

Both lactams and lactones have unique chemical and physical properties that make them useful in a variety of applications. For example, lactams are often used as solvents and as intermediates in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals, while lactones are used as flavour and fragrance compounds. Understanding the properties and applications of lactams and lactones is important for students studying organic chemistry and biochemistry.