Disposition and metabolism of diphenyl ether in rats.

After i.p. administration of [14C]diphenyl ether (5 mg/kg) to rats, radioactivity was detected rapidly in all organs and tissues. After intragastric administration of [14C]diphenyl ether (10 mg/kg) to rats, unchanged diphenyl ether in the blood was at max. concn. within 15 h and decreased linearly with time, with a biological half-life of about 1.5 h. More than 90% of the intragastrically administered dose was excreted in urine and faeces within three days; greater than 80% dose was in the urine. From g.l.c. and mass-spectral data, it was shown that rats metabolized diphenyl ether to its 2-hydroxy, 4-hydroxy, 4,4'-dihydroxy, 4-methoxy-monohydroxy and 4-methoxy-dihydroxy derivatives.