Metabolic oxidation of desmethylchlorimipramine in vitro by 9000 g rabbit-liver preparations

Abstract

1. The metabolism of desmethylchlorimipramine (I) has been investigated in vitro using fortified 9000 g liver homogenates of male rabbits.

2. Four metabolic products: N-hydroxydesmethylchlorimipramine (II), 3-(3-chloro-10, 11-dihydro-5H-dibenz[b, f]azepin-5-yl)propanoic acid (III), 10/11-hydroxydesmethyl-chlorimipramine (IV) and 2/8-hydroxydesmethylchlorimipramine (V) were isolated and identified by electron-impact mass spectrometry and n.m.r. spectroscopy.

3. Desmethylchlorimipramine (I) undergoes both N- and α-carbon oxidation in addition to aromatic and alicyclic carbon oxidation.