Metabolism of Drugs. LI. The Metabolic Fate of Alkylaryl Ethers in Rabbits

Abstract

Major metabolic pathways of two series of alkylaryl ethers, i.e. 2-alkoxy-5-nitro-anisoles and alkyl p-nitrophenyl ethers, were investigated in vivo with rabbits. It was confirmed that aryl ethers of methyl or ethyl were dealkylated quickly, but of butyl or of isoamyl only with slow rate and metabolized mainly through penultimate hydroxylation pathway. Propylaryl ethers, on the other hand, behaved very differently, producing ω-oxidation product together with dealkylation and penultimate hydroxylation products. Demethylation rate of the methoxyl group attached to the meta position of nitro-substituent in 2-alkoxy-5-nitroanisoles was held nearly constant over a series of compounds.