Studies in detoxication. 61. The metabolism of alkylbenzenes. tert.-Butylbenzene

Abstract
Tert.-butylbenzene is oxidized in rabbits mainly to 2:2-dimethyl-2-phenylethanol (up to 90% of the dose), which is excreted as a glucuronide, characterized as a triacetyl methyl ester. Traces of alpha-alpha-dimethylphenylacetic acid may also be formed. 2:2-Dimethyl-2-phenylethanol is not oxidized in rabbits to any appreciable extent, and 90-100% of doses of 150-300 mg/kg is excreted as 2:2-dimethyl-2-phenylethyl glucosiduronic acid, which is identical with the glucosiduronic acid excreted after feeding tert.-butylbenzene.