a Chester Beatty Research Institute, London SW3 6JB, United Kingdom
b Institute of Cancer Research: Royal Cancer Hospital, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, United Kingdom
Abstract:
N-Nitrosomorpholine is converted into N-nitroso-2-hydroxymorpholine by rat liver microsomes and by the Fenton oxidation system. The hydroxy derivative was also synthesised by the oxidation of N-nitrosomorpholine with permanganate and characterized as the methoxime and the 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone. The Fenton system also afforded products believed to be N-nitroso-2-morpholone, and the 2-hydroperoxy- and 2-peroxy-derivatives ofN-nitrosomorpholine. The only urinary metabolite definitely identified was N-itrosodiethanolamine.
The significance of metabolic 2-hydroxylation in relation to the carcinogenic action of N-nitrosomorpholine is discussed.