Enzymatic formations of adrenaline and other catechols from monophenols.

An enzyme that forms adrenaline from p- and m-sympathol and dopamine from p- and m-tyramine is localized in the microsomes of rabbit liver and requires the reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. The enzyme is nonspecific and can form catechols from the following normally occurring and foreign phenols: p- and m-octopamine, p-hydroxyephedrine, phenol, stilbestrol, N-acetyl-p-aminophenol, estradiol and N-acetylserotonin.