benzopyrene

thumb|Benzopyrene with a purity of over 98%, with a Russian ruble for scale [[File:Benzo-a-pyrene.svg|thumb|right|Chemical structure of benzo[a]pyrene|200px]] [[File:Benzo(e)pyrene.png|thumb|right|Chemical structure of benzo[e]pyrene|125px]] A benzopyrene is an organic compound with the formula C20H12. Structurally speaking, the colorless isomers of benzopyrene are pentacyclic hydrocarbons and are fusion products of pyrene and a phenylene group. Two isomeric species of benzopyrene are [[benzo(a)pyrene|benzo[a]pyrene]] and the less common [[benzo(e)pyrene|benzo[e]pyrene]]. They belong to the chemical class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

==Overview== Related compounds include cyclopentapyrenes, dibenzopyrenes, indenopyrenes and naphthopyrenes. Benzopyrene is a component of pitch and occurs together with other related pentacyclic aromatic species such as picene, benzofluoranthenes, and perylene. It is naturally emitted by forest fires and volcanic eruptions and can also be found in coal tar, cigarette smoke, wood smoke, and burnt foods such as coffee. Fumes that develop from fat dripping on blistering charcoal are rich in benzopyrene, which can condense on grilled goods.