2,4,6-Tribromophenol is a brominated

Bromine

Bromine ") is a chemical element with the symbol Br, an atomic number of 35, and an atomic mass of 79.904. It is in the halogen element group. The element was isolated independently by two chemists, Carl Jacob Löwig and Antoine Jerome Balard, in 1825–1826...

 derivative of phenol

Phenol

Phenol, also known as carbolic acid, phenic acid, is an organic compound with the chemical formula C6H5OH. It is a white crystalline solid. The molecule consists of a phenyl , bonded to a hydroxyl group. It is produced on a large scale as a precursor to many materials and useful compounds...

. It is used as a fungicide

Fungicide

Fungicides are chemical compounds or biological organisms used to kill or inhibit fungi or fungal spores. Fungi can cause serious damage in agriculture, resulting in critical losses of yield, quality and profit. Fungicides are used both in agriculture and to fight fungal infections in animals...

, as a wood preservative, and an intermediate in the preparation of flame retardant

Flame retardant

Flame retardants are chemicals used in thermoplastics, thermosets, textiles and coatings that inhibit or resist the spread of fire. These can be separated into several different classes of chemicals:...

s.

Production

Although natural TBP has been identified in ocean sediments as a metabolite of marine fauna, the commercial product is prepared industrially. In 2001, the production volume of TBP was estimated to be 2500 tonnes/year in Japan and 9500 tonnes/year worldwide. TBP can be prepared by the controlled reaction of elemental bromine with phenol:

Uses

The predominant use of TBP is as an intermediate in the preparation of flame retardants such as brominated epoxy resins. TBP is reacted with sodium hydroxide to form the sodium

Sodium

Sodium is a chemical element with the symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals; its only stable isotope is 23Na. It is an abundant element that exists in numerous minerals, most commonly as sodium chloride...

 salt, which is used as a fungicide and wood preservative.

The bismuth salt is the active ingredient in Xeroform dressing.

Microbial metabolism in products treated with TBP is known to produce 2,4,6-tribromoanisole

2,4,6-Tribromoanisole

2,4,6-Tribromoanisole is a chemical compound that is a brominated derivative of anisole. It is one of the chemicals responsible for cork taint....

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