Tetrachlorobenzene Explained

Tetrachlorobenzene is any of three isomeric chlorobenzenes with the molecular formula . They differ by the positions of the chlorine atoms around the ring. Tetrachlorobenzenes are colorless crystalline compounds.^[1]

Properties

Selected Physical Properties of Individual Isomers

isomer	m.p. (°C)	b.p. (°C)	m.p. (g/cm^3 @100 °C)
1,2,3,4	47	254	1.539
1,2,3,5	51.5	246	1.523
1,2,4,5	141	245	1.454

Synthesis

1,2,4,5-Tetrachlorobenzene can be produced by electrophilic halogenation of benzenes and some chlorobenzenes.^[2] 1,2,3,4-Tetrachlorobenzene can only be produced by chlorination of 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene.

Uses

1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene once was used as intermediates in the production of pesicides,^[3] specifically trichlorophenols. This method has been discontinued because it also produced 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.^[1]

See also

• Tetrabromobenzene
• Tetraiodobenzene

Notes and References

1. Book: 10.1002/14356007.o06_o03 . Chlorinated Benzenes and Other Nucleus-Chlorinated Aromatic Hydrocarbons . Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry . 2011 . Beck . Uwe . Löser . Eckhard . 9783527303854 .
2. Web site: US4205014A Process for 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene . . 22 June 2023.
3. Book: NTP Toxicity Study Reports . 1991 . . 11 . 22 June 2023 . en.