The metabolism of phenyl o-(2-N-morpholinoethoxy)-phenyl ether hydrochloride in the rabbit and rat.

Abstract

1. Urinary and faecal excretion of radioactivity in 120 h after oral administration of [U-14-C]phenyl o-(2-N-morpholinoethoxy)phenyl ether hydrochloride (200 mg/kg) were 92 and 3% dose in the rabbit, and 60 and 35% in the rat. 2. Urinary metabolites were produced by aromatic hydroxylation and aryl alkyl ether bond cleavage. Some evidence for formation of dioxomorpholino, oxohydroxymorpholino, and ethanolamino derivatives of the drug was obtained. 3. The aromatic hydroxylation product, p-hydroxyphenyl o-(2-N-morpholinoethoxy)phenyl ether hydrochloride had vasopressor activity comparable with the parent compound, but with shorter duration of action.