2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran
| Names | |
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| IUPAC name
IUPAC
4,5,11,12-tetrachloro-8-oxatricyclo[7.4.0.02,7]trideca-1(13),2,4,6,9,11-hexaene | |
Other names
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| Identifiers | |
3D model (JSmol) |
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| ChEMBL | |
| ChemSpider | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.223.045 |
| KEGG | |
PubChem CID |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA) |
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| Properties | |
| C12H4Cl4O | |
| Molar mass | 305.96 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | Colorless Crystals |
| Melting point | 227 °C (441 °F; 500 K) |
| 6.92e-07 mg/mL at 26 °C | |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references | |
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) is a polychlorinated dibenzofuran with a chemical formula of C12H4Cl4O. TCDF is part of the chlorinated benzofuran (CDF) family that contains between 1 and 8 chlorine atoms attached to the parent dibenzofuran ring system. The CDF family includes 135 compounds, of which only a few have been studied.
TCDF was discovered in the mid-20th century along with other CDFs. It was found to be an unwanted by-product in the manufacturing of chlorinated compounds; it is not commercially used or produced itself. TCDF is directly released into the environment via emissions of waste incineration, fires with PCB transformers, vehicle exhausts using leaded fuel, and bleaching of industrial products.
TCDF and other CDFs are known to have a lasting impact on the environment. TCDF can exist as both a gas and particles in the atmosphere, which results in deposition in the soil. It has an estimated half-life of around 60 days in the soil and atmosphere. This molecule can easily accumulate in the food chain, leading to potential human exposure. TCDF is listed as a hazardous air pollutant in the Clean Air Act of the 1990s. Monitoring programmes are established to keep track of the levels on TCDF in various environmental compartments to avoid damaging ecosystems.