Percentages of the deuterium retained after para-hydroxylation of (R)(+)4-2H-phenytoin and (S)(-) 4-2H-phenytoin in rat.

(R)(+) and (S)(-) 4-2H-phenytoin have been used as substrates for the determination of the percentage of deuterium retention (NIH shift) after para-hydroxylation of the substrates in rat. By using GC-MS analyses, the percentages of deuterium retention were found to be 69% and 70% for the (R) and (S) phenyl rings, respectively. The results add additional evidence for the involvement of arene oxide in the oxidation of the pro (R) and pro (S) phenyls of phenytoin. The oxidation process of each ring could be mediated by independent enzyme systems, a rapid oxidative enzyme for the pro (S) phenyl and a slow oxidative enzyme for the pro (R) phenyl.