The effect of copper and its compounds on halogenation and dehalogenation of aromatic compounds will be discussed in the proposed article. Cu oxidized to appropriate halides is an effective halogenation catalyst not only for the synthesis of halogenated benzenes or their derivatives as desired organic fine chemicals, but is also an effective catalyst for the undesirable formation of thermodynamically stable and very toxic polychlorinated and polybrominated aromatic compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls, dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans accompanied incineration of waste contaminated with halogenated compounds or even inorganic halides. With appropriate change in reaction conditions, copper and its alloys or oxides are also able to effectively catalyze dehalogenation reactions, as will be presented in this review.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that are linked to adverse health outcomes. PCB tissue levels are determinants of PCB toxicity; however, it is unclear how factors, such as an altered metabolism and/or a fatty liver, affect PCB distribution in vivo. We determined the congener-specific disposition of PCBs in mice with a liver specific deletion of cytochrome P450 reductase (KO), a model of fatty liver with impaired hepatic metabolism, and wildtype (WT) mice. Male and female KO and WT mice were exposed orally to Aroclor 1254, a technical PCB mixture. PCBs were quantified in adipose, blood, brain and liver tissues by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. PCB profiles and levels in tissues were genotype and sex dependent. PCB levels were higher in the liver from KO compared to WT mice. PCB profiles showed clear differences between tissues from the same exposure group. While experimental tissue : blood partition coefficients in KO and WT mice did not follow the trends predicted using a composition-based model, the agreement between experimental and calculated partition coefficients was still reasonable. Thus, a fatty liver and/or an impaired hepatic metabolism alter the distribution of PCBs in mice and the magnitude of the partitioning of PCBs from blood into tissues can be approximated using composition-based models.<br>
The Influence of Copper on Halogenation/Dehalogenation Reactions of Aromatic Compounds and Its Role in the Destruction of Polyhalogenated Aromatic Contaminants