[Rat urinary metabolites of (2-hydroxybutyl)-n-butylnitrosamine].

The chemical structure of 3 urinary metabolites of 2-hydroxy-di-n-butylnitrosamine has been identified by mass spectrometry. The results indicate that oxidation and formation of metabolites with shorter chain length may be explained by alpha-oxidation and subsequent degradation. This is an alternative to the beta-oxidation hypothesis of Krüger (1971).