SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HYDROXYLATED POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS (PCBS) IDENTIFIED IN HUMAN SERUM

Hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been identified in wildlife and human samples. Most of these compounds are highly chlorin ated (penta-hepatachloro) and contain a single meta- or para-hydroxyl group. Using the Cadogan coupling procedure, the following hydroxy-PCB s congeners were synthesized: 2,3,3',4',5-pentachloro-4-biphenylol, 2, 3',4,4',5-pentachloro-3-biphenylol, 2',3,3',4',5-pentachloro-4-bipheny lol, 2,2',3',4,4'pentachloro-3-biphenylol, 2,2',3,3',4',5-pentachloro- 4-biphenylol 2,2',3',4,4',5-hexachloro-3-biphenylol, 2,2',3,4',5,5'hex achloro-4-biphenylol, 2,2',3,3',4',5,5'-heptachloro-4-biphenylol, 2,2' ,3',4,4',5,5'-heptachloro-3-biphenylol, 2,2',3,4',5,5',6-heptachloro-4 -biphenylol. Many of these compounds have been detected as residues in human serum and current studies are investigating their activities as agonists and antagonists for several endocrine-mediated responses.