
Chlordane, Chlordene, Dihydrochlordene, Dihydroheptachlor, Heptachlor 
Dihydroheptachlor (DHC) (3,4,5,6,7,8,8-heptachloro-1,2,3a,4,7,7a- 
hexachloro-4, 7-methanoindene) 
a-DHC 
On gas chromatographic columns, a-dihydroheptachlor (a-DHC) underwent 
thermal decomposition to chlordene. Incubation of o-DHC with pig liver 
or housefly microsomes and NADPH, gave rise to two unidentified compounds 
believed to be chlorohydrins (190). 
B-DHC 
Gas chromatography of 8-DHC caused some thermal decomposition to 
chlordene., Incubation of B-DHC with pig liver microsomes, in the absence 
or presence of NADPH», gave rise only to a small amount of chlordene. In 
the presence of NADPH, and housefly or pig liver microsomes, $-DHC gave 
rise to chlordene, chlorhydrin (IV), a diol (V), 2-ketodihydrochlordene 
(VI) and two unidentified compounds (190). 
B-Dihydroheptachlor was also metabolized by Aspergillus niger and 
Penicillium notatum to more hydrophilic compounds. However, none were 
identified (1174) 
y-DHC 
In the absence of NADPH», pig liver microsomes gave rise only to 
small amounts of chlordene. In the presence of NADPH» and housefly or 
pig liver microsomes, y-DHC gave rise to an unidentified chlorinated 
hydrocarbon plus two alcohols (VIII & IX), 2-ketodihydrochlordene (VI) 
and a chlorohydrin (VII). (It was believed that compound VII gave rise 
to V.) With pig liver microsomes and NADPH2, y-DHC also gave rise to 
the trans diol (V) (190). 
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