Carcinogenic potential of chlorinated ethylenes tentative molecular rules

Chlorinated ethylenes are activated in mammalian metabolism to oxiranes. Only those with asymmetric chlorine substitution are mutagenic (trichloroethylene, vinylidence chloride and vinyl chloride) whilst the symetric molecules (tetrachloroethylene, cis- and trans-1.2-dichloroethylene) are inactive in this respect. Thus, stability of the oxirances (higher in the symmetric molecules, lower in the asymmetric ones) seems to be the important feature for the mutagenic, and possibly carcinogenic potential.