2,3,6-Trichlorobenzoic Acid 
Compared to most herbicides, 2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid has been 
found to be much more stable in soil. Studies with biologically active 
soil showed that this material was degraded with release of inorganic 
chloride. No intermediates were identified (367, 1158). 
When fed to rabbits and mice, 17.64 and 2.7%, respectively, of the 
2,3,6-trichlorobenzoic acid fed was excreted (74). Studies with other 
benzoic acids have shown that, when fed to animals, they are excreted in 
urine either unchanged or as conjugates of glycine and glucuronic acid 
(1089, 1508). 
Under the influence of ultraviolet light, TBA underwent dechlori- 
nation to both 2,5- and 2,6- dichlorobenzoic acid. Further dechlorination 
produced o-and m-chlorobenzoic acid. Further exposure of the ortho 
isomer to ultraviolet light in aqueous media produced benzoic acid and o- 
hydroxybenzoic acid; in benzene, o-biphenylcarboxylic acid was produced. 
Ortho- and meta- chlorobenzoic acid were both dechlorinated to benzoic 
acid in methanol (1170). 
%. pi "S. fj" °&, fi 
m—a—o. 

2,3,6-Trichloro- 2,5-Dichloro- m-Chlorobenzoic acid 
ibeue te acid benzoic acid 
O= ¥ OH H Og AH 08 ,.0H 
Cl 
(ee hv sh 
2,6-Dichloro- o-Chlorobenzoic acid o-Hydroxybenzoic Benzoic 
benzoic acid hv acid acid 
Benzene] hv 
: methanol 
-OH O= 

324 
