In 1794, physicianJan Rudolph Deiman, merchantAdriaan Paets van Troostwijk, chemist Anthoni Lauwerenburg, and botanist Nicolaas Bondt, under the name of Society of Dutch Chemists (Dutch:Gezelschap der Hollandsche Scheikundigen), were the first to produce 1,2-dichloroethane from olefiant gas (oil-making gas,ethylene) andchlorine gas.[6] Although theGezelschap in practice did not do much in-depth scientific research, they and their publications were highly regarded. Part of that acknowledgement is that 1,2-dichloroethane was called "Dutch oil" in old chemistry. This is also the origin of the archaic term "olefiant gas" (oil-making gas) for ethylene, for in this reaction it is ethylene that makes the Dutch oil. "Olefiant gas" is the etymological origin of the modern term "olefins", the family of hydrocarbons of which ethylene is the first member.
1,2-Dichloroethane has been used as degreaser and paint remover but this use has phased out due to itstoxicity. As a useful 'building block' reagent, it is used as an intermediate in the production of diverse organic compounds such asethylenediamine and higherethyleneamines.[9] In the laboratory it is occasionally used as a source ofchlorine, with elimination of ethene and chloride.
Via several steps, 1,2-dichloroethane is a precursor to1,1,1-trichloroethane. Historically, before leaded petrol was phased out, chloroethanes were used as an additive in petrol to prevent lead buildup in engines.[10]
It is alsotoxic (especially by inhalation due to its highvapour pressure) and possiblycarcinogenic. Its highsolubility and 50-yearhalf-life inanoxicaquifers make it a perennial pollutant and health risk that is very expensive to treat conventionally, requiring a method ofbioremediation.[12] While the chemical is not used in consumer products manufactured in the U.S., a case was reported in 2009 of molded plastic consumer products (toys and holiday decorations) fromChina that released 1,2-dichloroethane into homes at levels high enough to produce cancer risk.[13][14]
^Manfred Rossberg, Wilhelm Lendle, Gerhard Pfleiderer, Adolf Tögel, Eberhard-Ludwig Dreher, Ernst Langer, Heinz Rassaerts, Peter Kleinschmidt, Heinz Strack, Richard Cook, Uwe Beck, Karl-August Lipper, Theodore R. Torkelson, Eckhard Löser, Klaus K. Beutel, Trevor Mann "Chlorinated Hydrocarbons" inUllmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. 2006, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.doi:10.1002/14356007.a06_233.pub2.
^Deimann, van Troostwyk, Bondt and Louwrenburgh (1795)"Ueber die Gasarten, welche man aus Verbindungen von starker Vitriolsäure und Alkohol erhält" (On the types of gases which one obtains from combinations of strong vitriolic acid and alcohol),Chemische Annalen ... ,2 : 195-205, 310-316, 430-440. The production and characterization of 1,2-dichloroethane appear on pages 200-202. The investigators were trying to detect the presence of carbon (Kohl) in ethylene (Luft, literally, "air") by adding chlorine (zündend Salzgas, literally, "burning gas from salt"). Instead of the expected soot, an oil (Oehl) formed.
^S. De Wildeman & W. Verstraete (25 March 2003). "The quest for microbial reductive dechlorination of C2 to C4 chloroalkanes is warranted".Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol.61 (2):94–102.doi:10.1007/s00253-002-1174-6.PMID12655450.S2CID72921.