Biotransformations and plasma-level curves of chiral 1,4-benzodiazepine-2-ones.

Biotransformations of chiral 1,4-benzodiazepine-2-ones, (S)- and (R)-1 (7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-3 (S and R)-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one) in untreated and phenobarbital-pretreated rats were investigated. In urine, a 4'-oxygenated metabolite (compound 2) was identified as the biotransformation product from both enantiomers, (S)-2 being present in much higher amounts than (R)-2. Unchanged parent compounds were not found in urine. In plasma, 3'- and 4'-oxygenated metabolites were identified after administration of (S)-1 and (R)-1, respectively. The metabolite possessing an R-configuration was present in much lower amounts. The maximum concentrations of (R)-1 in plasma, following a single dose, was about 6 time as high as the maximum plasma concentration of (S)-1. Faster biotransformation and elimination of (S)-1 is assumed to be the explanation of these findings.