In vitro metabolism of phenylacetone, phenyl-2-butanone, and 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-butanone by rabbit liver preparations.

Phenylacetone, phenyl-2-butanone, and 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-butanone were incubated with rabbit liver 9000g supernatant fraction for 30 and 60 min to yield primarily the alcohols, plus small amounts of 1,2-glycols and ketols (2-one-1-ols). Phenylacetone incubations produced small amounts of benzoic acid, which was confirmed as a true metabolite by incubation of 2H5 (phenyl-labeled) phenylacetone and corresponding recovery of phenyl-labeled benzoic acid. No benzoic acid was detectable from incubations of phenyl-2-butanone and 3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-butanone. 3-Methyl-1-phenyl-2-butanone yielded eight metabolites in addition to the corresponding alcohol, and structures are proposed for some of these metabolic products.