Mechanisms of Mammalian Hydroxylation: Some Novel Metabolites of Chlorobenzene

Abstract

1. The urinary metabolites of [¹⁴C]chlorobenzene administered orally to rabbits have been examined.

2. The identified metabolites which account for 98-8% of the radioactivity in the urine include four previously unreported metabolites, namely, quinol, 3-chlorocatechol and o- and m-chlorophenylmercapturic acids.

3. The distribution of isomeric mercapturic acids, free phenols and phenolic conjugates is reported.

4. The major metabolites are r-chlorophenylmercapturic acid and the conjugates of 4-chlorocatechol.

5. The metabolism of chlorobenzene is discussed in terms of an initial epoxidation to 3,4-chlorobenzene oxide.