Oxepine

Oxepine is an oxygen-containing heterocycle consisting of a seven-membered ring with three double bonds. The parent C₆H₆O exists as an equilibrium mixture with benzene oxide.

File:Oxepin-benzene oxide.png

The oxepin–benzene oxide equilibrium is affected by the ring substituents. A related dimethyl derivative exists mainly as the oxepine isomer, an orange liquid.

Oxepine is an intermediate in the oxidation of benzene by the cytochrome P450 (CYP). Other arene oxides are metabolites of the parent arene.

Formation and selected reactions of benzene oxide (2) and oxepin (3).