Dibenzo-1,4-dioxin, also dibenzodioxin or dibenzo-''p''-dioxin (dibenzo-''para''-dioxin), is a
polycyclic heterocyclic
A heterocyclic compound or ring structure is a cyclic compound that has atoms of at least two different elements as members of its ring(s). Heterocyclic organic chemistry is the branch of organic chemistry dealing with the synthesis, proper ...
organic compound in which two
benzene
Benzene is an Organic compound, organic chemical compound with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecular formula C6H6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar hexagonal Ring (chemistry), ring with one hyd ...
rings are connected by a
1,4-dioxin
1,4-Dioxin (also referred as dioxin or ''p''-dioxin) is a heterocyclic, organic, non-aromatic compound with the chemical formula CHO. There is an isomeric form of 1,4-dioxin, 1,2-dioxin (or ''o''-dioxin). 1,2-Dioxin is very unstable due to i ...
ring. Its molecular formula is C
12H
8O
2. The two oxygen atoms occupy opposite (
''para''-) positions in the six-membered dioxin ring.
Dibenzodioxin is the
carbon skeleton of the poisonous
polychlorinated dibenzodioxins
Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs), or simply dioxins, are a group of long-lived polyhalogenated organic compounds that are primarily anthropogenic, and contribute toxic, persistent organic pollution in the environment.
They are commonly ...
(PCDDs), often called dioxins. The most harmful PCDD is
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-''p-''dioxin (TCDD) is a polychlorinated dibenzo''-p-''dioxin (sometimes shortened, though inaccurately, to simply ''dioxin'') with the chemical formula CHClO. Pure TCDD is a colorless solid with no distinguishable ...
(TCDD).
Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds
Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) are a group of chemical compounds that are persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the environmental pollutant, environment. They are mostly by-products of burning or various industrial processes or, in the ...
is a category of pollutants that includes PCDDs and other compounds that have similar structure, toxicity, and persistence. Dibenzodioxin is also the skeleton of the polybrominated dibenzodioxins.
Isomer
The general name dibenzodioxin usually refers to dibenzo-''p''-dioxin.
The
isomer
In chemistry, isomers are molecules or polyatomic ions with identical molecular formula – that is, the same number of atoms of each element (chemistry), element – but distinct arrangements of atoms in space. ''Isomerism'' refers to the exi ...
ic compound dibenzo-''o''-dioxin (dibenzo-''ortho''-dioxin) or dibenzo-1,2-dioxin, like the unstable
1,2-dioxin, has two adjacent oxygen atoms (
''ortho''-). No detailed information is available on this isomer, but it is expected to be highly unstable, with
peroxide
In chemistry, peroxides are a group of Chemical compound, compounds with the structure , where the R's represent a radical (a portion of a complete molecule; not necessarily a free radical) and O's are single oxygen atoms. Oxygen atoms are joined ...
-like characteristics.
See also
*
Thianthrene, the sulfur analog of dibenzodioxin
References
External links
{{Commons category, Dibenzo-p-dioxin, lcfirst=yes
Dibenzodioxins