What is "dioxetane"

n. (context organic chemistry English) Any of a class of heterocycle having a four-membered ring with two carbon atoms and two oxygen atoms

1,2-Dioxetane 1,3-dioxetane

A dioxetane or dioxacyclobutane is an organic compound with formula COH, whose backbone is a four-membered ring of two oxygen atoms and two carbon atoms. There are two isomers:

• 1,2-dioxetane where the oxygen atoms are adjacent.
• 1,3-dioxetane where the oxygen and carbon atoms alternate.