Screening the precursors of strong mutagen [3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone] MX from chlorinated water

In this study, 21 suspected precursors of MX were chlorinated in laboratory condition. Only 8 of selected compounds syringaldehyde, acetosyringone, ferulic acid, 3-ethoxy-4-hydroxy-benzaldehyde, 3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzaldehyde, vanillin, tryptophan, and tyrosine were screened as precursors of MX. The yields of MX by chlorination of syringaldehyde are the highest and decreased with chlorine dose, but the yields of MX by the other 7 compounds increased with chlorine dose. It may be possible to elucidate the reaction mechanism for the formation of MX in light of the reaction of these screened precursors with chlorine.