adjective
- situated or occurring outside a ring or cycle, especially in chemistry where an atom or group is attached to but not part of a ring structure
Usage: chemistry; technical
Examples
- The exocyclic double bond extends outward from the benzene ring.
- In organic chemistry, exocyclic substituents are atoms bonded to the ring but not incorporated into it.
- The exocyclic methylene group is a common structural feature in natural products.
- Exocyclic atoms can affect the reactivity and properties of cyclic compounds.