Metabolism of butyl p-nitrophenyl ether in vitro with rabbit liver preparations

1. The metabolism of butyl p-nitrophenyl ether in vitro has been investigated with rabbit liver preparations. 2. Evidence for three metabolic pathways is presented. These involve initial microsomal hydroxylation at alpha, omega--1 or the omega positions of the butyl chain. 3. (omega--1)-Hydroxybutyl p-nitrophenyl ether was oxidized chiefly by the soluble fraction to the corresponding (omega--1)-oxo derivative which spontaneously decomposed to give p-nitrophenol. 4. omega-Hydroxybutyl p-nitrophenyl ether identified as a metabolite was further oxidized by the soluble fraction to p-nitrophenoxybutyric acid.