A novel metabolite of oxycodone in the urine of rabbits.

In addition to six metabolites of oxycodone which were reported previously, 7 beta-hydroxy-6 beta-oxycodol was further isolated as one of the major metabolites in rabbits. The structure of this novel metabolite was characterized by mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Such a metabolite possessing vicinal hydroxyl groups in aliphatic ring is very new in the metabolism of narcotic analgesics.