Photochemical degradation of di and octachlorodibenzofuran

Photolysis of 2,8 di and octachlorodibenzofuran in methanol and hexane solutions results in rapid dechlorination of the substrates with the eventual accumulation of unidentified resinous polymeric products. Dechlorination is also observed to a certain extent when thin films of these compounds are exposed to sunlight. These preliminary data do not allow direct comparison of dibenzofuran degradation rates with rates of photochemical formation from corresponding chlorobiphenyls. In view of the photochemical lability of chlorodibenzofurans, however, it seems unlikely that accumulation of these compounds formed from chlorobiphenyls by photochemical reaction in the environment will occur.