Evidence for a 2,3-epoxide as an intermediate in the microsomal metabolism of 6-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene.

The rat liver microsomal metabolism of 3-deutero-6-nitrobenzo(a)pyrene ([3-2H]6-NO2-BaP) was studied. The metabolites were separated by h.p.l.c. The 500 MHz 1H n.m.r. spectral analysis of the metabolites indicated that the 3-hydroxy-6-NO2-BaP and 6-NO2-BaP-3,9-hydroquinone each retained 33% of the deuterium label at the C-2 position. It is proposed that the migration of deuterium occurs via an NIH shift mechanism. These results indicate that a 2,3-epoxide is a common intermediate.