Lack of mutagenicity to S. typhimurium of neopentyl bromide and pentaerythrityl tetrachloride: relation to chemical structure

Neopentyl bromide and pentaerythrityl tetrachloride were shown here to be non-mutagenic to 7 strains of Salmonella typhimurium. These inactivities are reflected in the inability of either compound to produce a colour reaction in the chemical alkylation test of Epstein (4-nitrobenzylpyridine, NBP). It is suggested that the lack of biological reactivity of these two alkyl halides is due to steric crowding of the halogen group. These findings are significant within the context of the potent mutagenicity of mono-haloalkanes in general. The similarity between the odour of pentaerythrityl tetrachloride and camphor is discussed.