IDENTIFICATION OF NEW METABOLITES OF BUTYLATED HYDROXYTOLUENE (BHT) IN RATS

Abstract

The urinary and fecal excretion of three new metabolites of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were revealed by gas chromatography after intraperitoneal administration of this compound to male Wistar rats. The structures of these metabolites, 2, 6-di-tert-butyl-p-benzoquinone (M-I), 2, 6-di-tert-butylhydroquinone (M-II), and 2, 6-di-tert-butyl-4-[(methylthio) methyl] phenol (M-III), were identified by comparison of gas chromatographic and mass spectral data with those of authentic samples. The possible formation of 2, 6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroperoxy-4-methyl-2, 5-cyclohexadien-1-one (1) as an intermediary metabolite to account for the occurrence of M-I was also discussed.