In vitro microsomal [correction of mircosomal] metabolism of N-benzyl and N-benzoylnornicotine derivates by rat.

The in vitro hepatic microsomal metabolism of N-1'-benzylnornicotine, N-l'-(p-chlorobenzyl)nornicotine, N-1'-benzoylnornicotine and N-1'-(p-chlorobenzoyl) nornicotine was studied using hepatic washed rat microsomal preparations fortified with NADPH. Substrates and their potential metabolites were synthesized, characterised by spectral methods, and separated using a reverse phase HPLC system consisted of a C18 column and a mobile phase composition of acetonitrile: phosphate buffer. Substrates and their potential metabolites were extracted from biological systems with dichloromethane. Metabolites detected were compared with retention times and uv spectra of authentic standards. Metabolic experiments indicated that oxidative dealkylation leading to the formation of nornicotine and the corresponding aldehydes was a major route of metabolism for N-alkylnornicotine substrates. In addition, N-1'-(p-chlorobenzyl)nornicotine produced the corresponding lactam and amide metabolites. N-Acylnornicotines were hydrolysed to nornicotine.