STEREOCHEMICAL ASPECTS OF THE METABOLISM OF 5-ETHYL-5-PHENYLHYDANTOIN (NIRVANOL) IN THE DOG

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 9  (5) , 393-401
Abstract
Enantiomers of 5 the anticonvulsant 5-ethyl-5-phenylhydantoin (EPH) were administered to dogs, and urinary metabolites were quantitated. After administration of (R)-EPH, the urinary products included unchanged drug, 5-ethyl-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)hydantoin (p-EHPH), 5-ethyl-5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)hydantoin (m-EHPH), and an N-glucuronide of EPH. Administration of (S)-EPH gave urianry products consisting of unchanged drug, p-EHPH, m-EHPH, and N-glucuronide of EPH, and a dihydrodiol metabolite, which has been isolated and identified as (5 S)-5-[(3R,4R)-3,4-dihydroxy-1,5-cyclohexadien-1-yl]-5-ethylhydantoin. The levorotatory isomers of p- and m-EHPH were assigned the (R)-configuration. An unidentified metabolite of EPH was detected through its reactivity under basic conditions to yield 2-ethyl-2-phenylhydantoic acid, which can be cyclized with acid to EPH. Quantitative studies of the disposition of single oral doses of (R)-, (S)-, and (RS)-EPH by these metabolic routes suggest that the metabolism of 1 enantiomer is unaffected by the presence of the other enantiomer. Stereoselectivities of metabolic pathways are discussed in relation to stereoselectivities observed for phenytoin metabolism in the dog.