PHOTODEGRADATION OF HEXACHLOROPHENE AND RELATED POLYCHLORINATED PHENOLS

— –Irradiation of hexachlorophene in absolute ethanol yields a series of dechlorinated bisphenols resulting from loss of chlorine at the ortho and para positions relative to the hydroxy groups. The two primary photoproducts. 2.2′-dihydroxy-3,3′, 5,6,6′-pentachlorodiphenylmethane and 2,2′-dihydroxy-3,5,5′, 6,6′-pentachlorodiphenylmethane were identified by independent syntheses.