What is the structure of Polychlorinated Biphenyls?

[devilkidjin]

does that have a specific structure ?

cause i saw like at least 2 different structure anyone help? =/

 

[movies]

There are tons of possible structures!

 

[Bystander]

There are 209 congeners, 210 if you include biphenyl, 206 if you are a purist and exclude mono-substitution from the "poly-" prefix.

 

[devilkidjin]

so there are many, is there like a "main" one?

like the one from http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HEC/CSEM/pcb/fig1.JPG

would that be the main ? or general one?

any effect on the environments? beside the poison in fishes..=/ that i know

 

[Bystander]

No "main" one. You see ten possible positions at which Cl can be substituted for H; mono-, di-, tri-, ... , decachlorobiphenyl are all included in the term "polychlorobiphenyl." There are three monochloros, ortho-, meta-, and para-, or 2-, 3-, 4-, doesn't matter which phenyl group, since they are equivalent. Dichloro? 2,3-, 2,4-, 2,5-, 2,6-, 2,2'-, 2,3'-, 2,4'-, 3,3'-, 3,4'-, 4,4'-, where unprimed indicates one phenyl group, and the prime indicates substitution on the second phenyl group. The rest of the patterns "are left to the reader as an exercise."

Environmental effects? Rats on PCBs (by gavage) lived on an average 6 mos. longer than control animals; there was an increased incidence of liver tumors observed, but it was not clear whether this was caused by the physical abuse associated with gavage feeding, or the activity of PCBs on rat metabolism.

There is a bioaccumulation observed in fatty tissues as you move up the foodchain.

 

[devilkidjin]

thank you bystander :D