Enantioselective biotransformation of aryl-isopropyl, -isopropenyl, and -propenyl groups by the rabbit or by the rat.

Thirteen kinds of aromatic compounds (Alkyl- and alkenyl-) were administered to rabbits and the chiralities of their optical active metabolite were determined by the synthesis of the enantiomers or their derivatives. This work has revealed many examples of enantioselective biotransformations and chiral inversion in the rabbits and mechanisms for this inversion have been proposed. The enantioselective hydration of transanethole epoxide was also examined in vitro in rat liver microsomes and possible mechanisms of this process are also discussed.