Abstract
1. A number of N-hydroxylated indole derivatives have been fed to rats and the urinary metabolites compared with those obtained on feeding the corresponding N-H indoles.
2. 1-Methoxy- and 1-acetoxy-indole were metabolized to compounds normally observed on feeding indole.
3. 1-Hydroxy- and l-methoxy-indofe-3-carboxylic acids were both partially excreted unchanged and reduced to indole-3-carboxylic acid which was excreted along with its glucuronide.
4. Indole-3-glyoxylic acid and its 1-methoxy derivative were excreted almost entirely unchanged. l-Hydroxyindole-3-glyoxylic acid was mostly excreted unchanged, but some reduction to indole-3-glyoxylic acid took place. The stability of these acids is associated with their low pKa values.
5. The significance of the removal in vivo of groups attached through oxygen to the 1 position of indoles in relation to the synthesis of new potential medicinal agents is noted.